MA Flip PA
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Massachusetts grassroots activists keeping PA blue!
Strategy and communication
TOOLS and TIPS
TOOLS
Read MAFlipPA's Rural Reporter
for bi-weekly tools, tips, and inspiration.
Putting AI to Work for Progressive Causes:
Examples of ChatGPT-generated messaging
Counter Messaging:
Responding to fear-mongering.
(Source: PSG Consulting)
Messaging Guides:
A valuable resource to learn the principles of persuasive and mobilizing messaging of political issues with examples for how to apply them. (Source: ASO Communications)
Advice about creating and supporting inclusive schools in PA: Pennsylvanians for Welcoming and Inclusive Schools (PA WInS) coalition seeks to engage more people to push back against the extremists. They offer advice, fact sheets, forms for reporting suspected discrimination, promising practices, and messaging guidance.
ThruText can make texting campaigns easier. Texting can be as, or more, effective than phone calls at reaching voters, especially younger ones. And it's often easier to find volunteers to point and click.
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How to Win Your Local Election Guide: NGPVAN, the company behind VoteBuilder (detailed voter information) and Mobilize (for promoting events) offers a free, and extensive 65-page guide. It describes everything from calculating a "win" number to targeting the right voters, precincts, campaign planning, communication strategies, and more.
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Gun Control Violence Prevent Scorecard:
Find out your legislators' views on gun control. Use TikTok or Reels to share scores of local representatives with young volunteers and voters and ask them to call or text their representatives and urge them to enact common sense gun control. (Source: CeaseFirePA)
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Register voters online!
(Source: Indivisible)
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Messaging the harm of PA GOP spending plans:
Share the facts about the damage the GOP's spending bill would have on Pennsylvanians from slower Medicare payments to rural providers, loss of access to job training, and more....
(Source: Activitate America)
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Use this interactive tool to discover how the judges you elect have a direct impact on issues that matter to you most, including abortion, civil liberties, and education. Go ahead and select a topic!
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Trump ignored the opioid crisis; Biden's taking action. The DNC has pulled together messaging and news reports highlighting the fact that fentanyl deaths sourced under Trump. Useful information that contrasts Republican indifference with Democratic action.
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Perceptions on the Econony in Battleground States
Likely voters in battleground districts are deeply pessimistic about the economy. This is challenging news for President Biden trying to overcome perception vs reality. Learn more on views of the economy in battleground from Navigator, a resource that develops and distributes progressive messages and polling on the most pressing issues.
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Free Precinct-Level Voting Data
Check out Dave's Redistricting, a free interactive and powerful website to help evaluate the fairness of proposed redistricting maps. Activists can use it to guide voter registration, ballot chasing, or even volunteer recruitment. (Sponsored by Social Good Fund.)
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Messaging Healthcare in Rural Communities
Proven strategies for talking about sensitive issues such as abortion, and compelling statistics about why rural health care is failing, and what voters can do about it.
(Source: RuralVote.org, advocating for rural people and rural places.)
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Running Campaigns in Small Towns and Rural Communities
RuralOrganizing.org has an impressive track record or research and action driving the Progressive agenda in rural areas. Download their campaign toolkit here and other Rural Organizing resources from their website.
(Source: Rural Organizing.)
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Who Tried to Kill Local Infrastructure Projects?
Find the names of MAGA Republicans who tried to kill local infrastructures that are now benefitting Pennsylvania. The Democracy Labs has mapped almost 27K projects across the country, including many in PA, and overlaid it with the Republicans who voted to kill the bill. Shame on you Mike Kelly, Glenn Thompson, Guy Reschenthaler, John Joyce, Fred Keller,
Scott Perry, Dan Meuser, Lloyd Smucker!
(Source: Democracy Labs)
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"Register Democrats. Save the World." Sign up for training with Field Team 6 and learn how to take part in a "social storm."
(Source: Field Team 6)
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TIPS
Fly your flag! It's a great way to "take back" the patriotic brand from the far right.
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Have a pressing issue? Host a public conversation with local political leaders to discuss it.
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Let AI work for progressive causes! See sample AI-generated organization description and voter registration outreach to inspire opportunities.
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Adopt a Democrat!
As we gear up for a Trump-Biden rematch in 2024, too many likely Democrats may sit on the sidelines. Encourage distracted or dismayed voters to make their voices heard in the voting booth or via their mail-in ballots. "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter," Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Distribute literature - at the laundromat!
Looking for public places to leave your literature. Try your local laundromats where people waiting for their laundry are likely to read it.
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Get young voters to to participate!
Set up recruiting tables outside sports events. Or, do what Chair of Schuylkill County Dems, Todd Zimmerman, does and pull a monthly list of newly registered Democrats in the county and send a letter to those who are 18 years or older.
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Coral press coverage for your event!
The national progressive group, Indivisible, has tips on how to get press coverage for your events - coverage that will make your member of Congress and other lawmakers sit up and pay attention.
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What have you done for me?
Create a poll card list of candidate accomplishments specific to your county or locality. See sample from Delaware County, PA.
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Create compelling posters!
Instead of the usual name and bio handouts at polls, display a poster with tangible positive things your candidate has done for your community. See sample displayed for winning candidates at polls in Delaware County, PA.
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Create good vibes by adopting a road!
Delaware Valley Action in Pike County, PA, sponsored a cleanup of two roads. Signs posted on both roads now identify DVA as the sponsor, generating name recognition and good vibes with every driver that passes. Contact your township supervisor or county commissioner to adopt your own road, or the PA Department of Transportation's "Adopt a Highway" program for state roads.
How to elect Progressives in rural districts!
Better funding, off-cycle organizing, focusing on local issues and emotional appeals can help elect Progressives even in red, rural areas. Read key takeaways from 2022 election.
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USEFUL LINKS
Economy: Currently, the economy is one of the most critical issues in the 2024 election. The Democrats (including Biden) have a proven record on improving the economy, yet Americans are doubtful. Below are links to data and experts who can back up the positive results.
Our Pennsylvania Partners
The leaders we're helping to fight for democracy in red, rural PA
