Kolawole Akinlosotu 8/15/25 Kolawole Akinlosotu 8/15/25

Thank You Common Power

By Pouya, Sr. Fieldwork Associate

Pouya and Ms. Blande in Selma Alabama in 2022

In two weeks, I’ll be starting law school. That sentence still feels a little surreal to say. It marks the beginning of something entirely new — and the end of one of the most formative chapters of my life.

What I Found Here

At 19, I joined Action Academy as a passionate student organizer, drawn to politics. The idea of Common Power almost felt too good to be true. What I found was more than I ever could’ve hoped for: a community of thoughtful, courageous people who show up every single day with purpose and heart.

I’ll never forget being asked to co-lead Team Georgia in 2022, arguably one of the most important State Teams in the country. The responsibility was heavy, but even more so, the trust, especially since I didn’t show up as expected.

The following year, I was unexpectedly asked to re-envision Fieldwork and help lead the department full-time, despite the lack of experience I had in this work. That’s what it means to live your values as an organization — to not just talk about youth leadership, but to actually make space for it in meaningful ways.

*Pouya directing volunteers for the GA 2024 election*

And then came 2024 — an election year that was a beast in every sense. I was entrusted to lead the State Team program, and together, we reached new heights: more volunteers, more Leads, more State Teams, more trips, and more doors knocked than ever before in Common Power’s history. And yet… we didn’t get the outcome we hoped for.

But what happened next reminded me exactly why this community is so special. The love, the support, the continued belief in the work — even after a tough loss — was magical.

This community reminded me that how we show up matters just as much as what we achieve. That showing up with heart, again and again, is the work.

To the People Who Shaped Me

To those I worked closely with: thank you. Whether you were a volunteer, Team Lead, or staff, your impact on me is profound. Your mentorship and collaboration have left a lasting mark.

You’ve shown me that leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room —

It’s about listening deeply, acting with humility, and showing up with consistency and thoughtfulness.

I’m proud of what we built together. And even more proud of how we built it — with care, with honesty, and with deep respect for the communities we serve.

To Charles

When thinking of my growth at Common Power, I have to specifically thank Charles. You’ve taught me what it means to be a leader — what it truly takes and means to show up, to lift others up rather than push them down, to forgive, and to extend a hand to those different from you. Your mentorship has been invaluable — and, as you know, it’s not ending anytime soon.

Thank you for continuing to believe in me even after I made mistakes — and when, frankly, you didn’t have many reasons to keep doing so. Your trust and grace have profoundly changed me. It’s shaped how I lead, how I listen, and how I move forward.

Not Goodbye, Just a Shift

Even though I’m stepping away from the day-to-day, I’m not disappearing. I’ll always be rooting for Common Power and the work it continues to do. I’m excited to find new ways to support, show up, and stay connected.

Let’s keep building. Let’s stay in touch. And let’s keep showing up — for each other, for a more just and inclusive democracy, and for the world we know is possible.

*Pouya with the team curing ballots in CA 2024*

Mustafa Ali Khan 8/8/25 Mustafa Ali Khan 8/8/25

Building Hubs Across The Nation

Written by: Jessica, Fieldwork Associate

ED Charles Douglas and Jessica Establishing the Colorado Hub

When I first stepped into the role of leading our Hubs work at Common Power, I didn’t fully grasp just how much this journey would change and pivot and completely transform how I thought about organizing. I’ve spent the last few months traveling the country with my team (shout-out Charles Douglas, Binh Truong, and Mustafa Ali Khan!) and together, we’ve sat in living rooms, church basements, co-working spaces, and cafés to meet with volunteers who care deeply about their communities and want to be part of something bigger.

As the person tasked with developing and running our Hubs, I’ve had the privilege (and sometimes the chaos!) of building something from the ground up. I’ve seen firsthand how organizing isn’t just about campaigns or doorknocking. It’s about community. It’s about showing up. It’s about seeing people not just as volunteers, but as leaders, neighbors, and friends.

This post is a reflection of what I’ve learned, what we’ve built together, and where we’re headed next. The work of Common Powered Hubs is and will always be personal.

Every city we land in, every conversation we have, every moment of connection – it’s all part of a bigger story that I’m proud to be writing alongside so many of you.

When we launched our first Hub in March, I didn’t know exactly what would unfold. I just knew that we wanted to bring people together to build power and community where it matters most: in their own backyards.

That first Hub was in Southern California.

Charles, Binh, Mustafa, and I packed our bags and traveled up and down the region. From Hollywood to South Bay to Dana Point, we met people who were fired up and ready to do something. The energy was real. But so were the challenges. Southern California is sprawling. It’s hard to rally around one action when people live hours apart, have different neighborhood priorities, and are plugged into different issues.

We learned quickly that local organizing can't be one-size-fits-all.

So we split the SoCal Hub into smaller communities: Greater LA and South Bay. They share some volunteers and overlap in geography, but the needs are vastly different. Greater LA leans big: big reach, big events, and volunteers from every corner of the city. South Bay, by contrast, is tightly focused on hyperlocal engagement: activating neighbors who haven’t been reached before.

This was my first insight:

Organizing is not just about geography. It’s about identity, values, and the willingness to meet people where they are, even if they live just a few miles apart.

Then came Colorado.

We launched the Colorado Hub similarly – meeting in-person with folks we already had relationships with.

But Colorado surprised me. People there weren’t just interested in national issues; they were laser-focused on flipping their own congressional district.

They didn’t need convincing. They needed coordination.

From this momentum came Monica – our first official Hub Lead! Monica wasn’t just a passionate organizer. She was local, trusted, and willing to step up. That’s when I had my second big insight: Local leadership is everything. When people see someone they know leading, they’re far more likely to show up. It’s not just interest or passion, there has to be trust.

Inspired by Monica, we circled back to LA. This time, with a new focus: finding our Monica in every Hub.

That’s how we got Michael and Annie: natural leaders who showed up and kept showing up. We brought them (along with Monica) into the field with us in New Jersey, Virginia, and Arizona so they could experience what community building looks like the CP way. They didn’t just come back with ideas. They came back with purpose. They’re now carrying the CP spirit in SoCal, leading not just with logistics but with community and vision.

And then came New York.

By now, we had a rhythm: meet and greet, build trust, find leaders, organize action. But New York humbled us. The energy there was already off the charts. But so was the experience. People weren’t waiting for someone to start something – they were already knee-deep in the work. From Indivisible chapters to League of Women Voters, folks were already organized. The need wasn’t for new leadership. It was for amplification.

So we pivoted. We found our Hub Lead (Jeff!) and went straight into strategy. Instead of laying a new foundation, we’re building onto what already exists. By September, New York volunteers will be knocking doors in one of the most competitive mayoral elections in the country. And we’ll work to support, connect, and scale what's already working.

Which brings us to the last lesson I learned: listen. Listen to the people on the ground and you’ll better meet their needs.

That’s how you’ll build and develop local power.

That’s been the story of our Hubs so far. Each one is different. Each one taught me something new. And each one reminds me that the potential of local organizing is limitless if you listen, adapt, and stay grounded in people.

Our Hubs are now knee-deep in work and community building:

SoCal is now launching its first Deep Listening campaign in CA-45 – a district that flipped by less than 600 votes in 2024. Volunteers will be going door to door, talking to voters we lost last cycle, listening for what changed and planting the seeds for change again in 2026.
In Colorado, we’re registering renters, recruiting volunteers, and showing up in communities across CO-08 to unseat Gabe Evans. We’re building our presence in competitive districts and growing our capacity in blue neighborhoods because we know that real change takes deep and long-term work.
And in New York, our volunteers will be joining an already electric movement to shift the direction of local politics, one conversation at a time.

This whole journey began with one conversation. Then a few Zoom calls. Then actions. Now, we have growing communities doing the work.

And we’re just getting started. And with everything we’ve learned so far, we’re ready to transform our Seattle community into something more.

Further Together,

Jessica, Fieldwork Associate

Monica and the Colorado Hub Making Good Trouble!

Kolawole Akinlosotu 7/15/25 Kolawole Akinlosotu 7/15/25

A Message of Hope & Perseverance for These Troubling Times: History Shows Us the Way

Written by the Director of The Institute For Common Power, Dr. Terry Anne Scott

In the midst of the turmoil and uprisings that had gripped much of the nation in 1967, when people were rebelling against systemic racism, xenophobia, police brutality, and the absence of human rights, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. penned his final book, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Imploring people to understand the frustrations of those situated in the geographically and economically restrictive boundaries of inequity, he called for change, for perseverance, for courage to dismantle an unjust system. The passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act marked seemingly inconceivable and unattainable change, but there was still work to be done (just as there is today). Dr. King, always one to stride confidently and audaciously into the path of change, would lead by example in answering the question posed in his final monograph.

*The Institute Learning Tour, Memphis, Tennessee ‘24*

On April 3, 1968, Dr. King arrived in Memphis, Tennessee. He was there to come to the aid of striking, Black sanitation workers, people considered by too many to be the least among us. They were the downtrodden. Just weeks before Dr. King’s arrival, two Black men, Echol Cole and Robert Walker, were fatally crushed by a faulty garbage truck and the city failed to act. Their deaths revealed long-standing abuse and dismissiveness of Black sanitation workers in Memphis and existed as the spark that ignited an organized effort to exact change. Dr. King arrived that Wednesday as 1,300 sanitation workers were on strike. He came to aid in their fight.

That evening, the evening before his assassination on April 4, 1968, one of the most visible leaders in the world delivered an unbelievably powerful and emotional speech to a crowd gathered at Bishop Charles Mason Temple. There stood Dr. King, clenching the edges of the lectern—sick from what appeared to be influenza—understanding and living one of the guiding tenets of his faith, his identity: what is done to the least of us is done to all of us. While discussing the plight of the local sanitation workers, he posed the following to highlight and herald the importance of self-sacrifice:

"The question before you tonight,” he implored, is not, “’If I stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to all of the hours that I usually spend in my office every day and every week...?'

*Sanitation workers strike - Memphis, Tenn., March 18, ‘68*

The question is not, 'If I stop to help this man in need, what will happen to me?'”

The question, Dr. King insisted, is “If I do not stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to them?' That's the question." What will happen to them?

The question before us in this historical moment, this day and each day, is what will happen if we do nothing, if we don’t do enough. We are the ones we have been waiting for. We can create change. Common Power and the Institute for Common Power are here to help you recommit to your purpose, perhaps discover a new purpose and learn how to use your platform, your voice. Join us in this fight! We are made for this moment!

We must, today and each day, witness and recognize the change that has been made because of people like Dr. King and others. Their successes serve as primers for what can be done to change our democracy and make it one that treats the “least” among us the same as it treats the ones who have power.

There will still be those who fervently attempt to make chaos the order of the day by promoting divisiveness, by dismissing the concerns of others, by denying the existence of systemic racism, by brutalizing others. But we must unite against them. We can change people’s hearts and minds. If we can’t change the hearts and minds of some people, we can legislate their inability to harm anyone. Please join us in our work to include everyone in the folds of democracy; to create a world of possibility for all; to make this a democracy that is just and inclusive, a democracy that stops to help the least among us.

Kolawole Akinlosotu 6/27/25 Kolawole Akinlosotu 6/27/25

A Message From Kylie

I can hardly believe my time as a staff member at Common Power (CP) is coming to an end. It feels fitting to share a message in the very kind of blog post I asked others to write in my most recent role as a Senior Associate in the Marketing and Comms Department. This one is for you, my community, as much as it is for me.

As I prepared to write this, I started by revisiting my reflections from the first few quarters of my CP journey. I say “quarters” in the academic sense because, when I started as an intern during my sophomore year at UW, writing reflections was part of the structure David and I set up so I could earn credit. In my review three key themes stood out: growth, purpose, and resilience. While I didn’t necessarily recognize these at the time, or at every moment over the past six years, these words have stayed with me since the beginning. I’ll use them now to frame the rest of this blog post.

Growth

CP was my first "big girl job”. I was 19, eager, a little unsure, and completely unaware of how integral CP would become to my development as a professional and person. I learned how to navigate a workplace, carry myself, and take on real responsibility. I was stretched, but in an environment that encouraged me to try, fail, and try again. This can be rare and invaluable for a young person just starting out.

I also learned from watching many types of leaders in action. Each brought their own strengths and styles. Over time, I took pieces from all of them to shape my own.

But my growth wasn’t limited to skill; it was personal too. Throughout this work, I saw more of the United States than I could have ever dreamed of or thought I wanted to. On just my second CP trip, I went to South Carolina and found myself talking to students at Bob Jones University and even attending a Trump rally. These experiences challenged my assumptions and opened my perspective.

Traveling with CP exposed me to different ways of living, communicating, and organizing. Just like with the various types of leadership, I integrated pieces I admired into my life. For example, I say hi to strangers on the streets in Seattle now. I bring with me the lessons I learned and moments of warmth I experienced.

Another part of my growth was learning to own my identity as a person of color. Being a trans-racial adoptee, this hasn’t always been easy for me. I’ve struggled with the concept of belonging. Charles played a huge role in this; he saw me and helped me find my voice. I’ll also never forget what David said during a particularly challenging moment: “All we want is for you to show up authentically”. The encouragement I received from leadership gave me the confidence to lead as my full self.

PURPOSE

*Staff Learning Tour Birmingham Alabama ‘22*

It’s a running joke amongst staff that I have had more managers than anyone else. Over the years, I helped create programs, like Action Academy, and watched entire arms of the CP ecosystem, like the Institute, form. I’ve seen colleagues, volunteers, and partner organizations come and go. People often ask me what’s kept me here so long. Full transparency: I’ve asked myself that too.

For me, the answer comes back to purpose.

Through every organizational shift, I remained grounded in CP’s mission and the community it built. Even in the hardest moments, I could return to that shared sense of "why". At my core, I knew this work aligned with my values, but in many ways, it helped me discover and define those values more clearly. Though the cast of characters has changed over the years, the heart of this community never has. I stayed because of the people.

RESILIENCE

From the very beginning, David told me this wouldn’t be your typical internship, and he wasn’t kidding. I moved from an intern to a full-time staff member in six months, then took a quarter off in the fall of 2020 to work on the elections. I learned to adapt at a pace that was unfamiliar—and sometimes uncomfortable—for a Type A planner like me, but it was exactly what I needed to grow. I navigated shifts in role, organization changes, and a constantly evolving political landscape.

These experiences tested my mindset. I learned that resiliency isn’t about having all the answers or a clear path. Instead, it's about becoming your own source of stability, trusting yourself and those around you, and showing up anyway.

I am proud to leave Common Power with a deep sense of gratitude. I am grateful for every early morning call, every last-minute pivot, and every door knock. I will also be eternally grateful for the opportunities that allowed me to grow beyond CP, including the Higher Education Fund that enabled me to pursue my MBA and the Gratitude Package that ensured a safe departure. A special thanks to my (most recent) manager, Wole, whose support and guidance made these possibilities a reality.

While I feel bittersweet about moving on, I know my community remains. That’s the thing about community: it doesn’t end when a job does. No matter what’s next, I know we’ll continue to go Further Together.

- Kylie Knowles

Kolawole Akinlosotu 6/1/25 Kolawole Akinlosotu 6/1/25

Celebrating 7 Years Of Common Power!

You can tell a lot about an org by what they value in their early years. You can tell even more by how consistently they stand by those values. Common Power was born for action, taking our first steps in 2018, after deciding to participate in the blue wave midterms. Through a pandemic, a recession, generation-defining wins, and nation-defining losses we are still rooted in Action, Education, Community, and the development of leaders.

ACTION

We believe our democracy should be just and inclusive, and to make it so we must take action. Our democracy is not just and inclusive, but it should be, and can be. Making it so will not happen by us simply seeking our own enrichment or expanding our knowledge, but by taking action. This requires those who know and believe to do the hard work first. For them to take on risk and sacrifice their comfort.

EDUCATION

Education is the key catalyst for action and a unifying motivator for our volunteers. Since our beginning, education has moved us toward understanding, then action. Today, it is foundational for our community and an essential part of our identity. Much of this work is brought to life by The Institute for Common Power, which is celebrating its third year of moving people from education to action.

From the past, we have discovered how to build our organization better, how to create coalitions, and how to sustain it beyond the years. We learn from previous struggles as we engage in current ones.

COMMUNITY

We build community with intention into our systems. Together. Because we know community sustains our work beyond single elections and across years, we look for ways to not only foster the concepts of community, but build intentional structures in our organizing to codify community. We work in Teams, Crews, and Squads. Community is in everything, even if it doesn’t come first.

NEXT-GEN LEADERSHIP

Prioritizing and amplifying next-generation leadership is the only way our community endures and we do this best through the Action Academy program, which brings in hundreds of young leaders to the CP community every year. Developing next-generation leaders and community members is the only way we ensure we can continue our work for the long term. Younger generations are also inherently more diverse across race, gender identity, and sexuality, ensuring a cohort truly representative of our country’s future. Providing them with leadership roles infuses our org with fresh ideas and keeps us aware of new challenges.

This is why Common Power is able to stay active every year. This is why we’re able to participate in elections large and small. This is how we knock on doors across six generations and diverse backgrounds that reflect America. It’s how we endured the deep deep loss from last fall, and how we find deeper joy and meaning in the community we’ve built.

This month, we’re celebrating the best way we know how - action! We’ve got events/initiatives lined up all throughout the month and we’d love for you to be there. Take a look at the graphic below for some of the highlighted events, or go to our event page to see what’s coming up next!

At Common Power, we don’t get ready, we stay ready.
We were born for this.
Keep on…

Charles
Executive Director, Common Power

Mustafa Ali Khan 3/5/25 Mustafa Ali Khan 3/5/25

2025 Strategy

*What is CP doing to fight Trump and Elon? How do we stop Elon from taking over the Government? What ‘s the most effective way to fight back?*
W
*hat can we do right now?*

These are just some of the frequent questions we’ve gotten over the past few weeks and we get it…

Nothing could have prepared us for the blitz of illegal executive orders, an overpowered oligarch with the sole aim to dismantle and leech off of our government, and a docile congress with their political hands tied. We only played defense initially, protecting the most targeted people, and advocating within blue states. As Trump’s attacks on our lives and our livelihoods have increased, we’ve committed to taking the fight to them.

Common Power is On The Offense in 2025.

We’ll continue creating a sustainable community prioritizing next-gen leadership development and catalyzing new volunteers from education to action. In our fieldwork, we’ve shifted gears to meet this moment with urgency.

Our Goals:

Take the House
Beat Elon
Support Fighters

We’ll also:

Breakthrough Messaging
Mobilize Volunteers in Blue States

Take The House

The closest we’re gonna get to power in government is to Take the House by flipping their thin margin, and that means winning elections or pressuring moderates to stop giving Trump a blank check.

We’re not waiting on the sidelines until the 2026 midterms to start talking about federal elections. Instead, in 2025 we’re tackling every US House election that comes up.

Some of these are races we have a solid chance of winning, but in states like Florida the chances are slim-to-none. That’s okay. This part of our strategy focuses on applying pressure to Republicans in Congress and showing them that if you align with a president and policies that hurt the American people, your seat is NOT safe. Across two deep red Florida congressional districts, we sent volunteers to shrink their win margins and send a message to conservatives in purple districts that they need to slow the Trump agenda, and maybe even vote with Democrats on bipartisan legislation.

2. Beat Elon

**This year, we’re heading to:**

Florida, two Special House Elections
Wisconsin, State Supreme Court race
Virginia, Gubernatorial Election
Plus more!

He’s got control of vital pieces of our government and has used his vast wealth to try and control our elections. While our allies are fighting him in the courts, we’re committed to sending volunteers to beat Elon anywhere he tries to buy a major election.

From Wisconsin to Florida, Elon and his aligned orgs are paying canvassers, buying ads, and trying to buy votes outright. Common Power is showing up big, sending dozens of volunteers to talk to voters in an effort to send a message to him and other oligarchs that our democracy can’t be bought. That our common power of our vote is more powerful.

80 of our volunteers just got back from Wisconsin where we helped Susan Crawford beat back Elon’s money, and we’re ramping up to do it again.

Learn more about volunteering with Common Power here!

3. Support Fighters

We’ve seen our leaders fold to Trump’s agenda and respond with safe, or lackluster tactics. Cory Booker, while an imperfect Senator, showed the world what it looks like to risk something to take a stand. Across the country, there are fighters like him running for office, and if we’re going to get more elected officials to put as much risk and energy into this pushback as we are, we need to support and elect fighters into office, especially in the Blue states where much of the movement will grow.

This summer we’re headed to New Jersey and Virginia to do just that. Join us for our info sessions below:

Virginia: https://www.mobilize.us/commonpower/event/772998/

New Jersey: https://www.mobilize.us/commonpower/event/772992/

While we are determined to fight Elon and this administration head-on, we know that we have to think bigger. That’s why our next set of strategies have a longer time horizon, focused on the moment but also setting the foundation for elections to come.

Breakthrough Messaging

A key takeaway from the 2024 elections was how we need more content, part of our strategy is reaching those who feel disconnected from traditional institutions. These voters made a difference in the last presidential election, and they’ll continue to make a difference in upcoming elections. We can’t reach them with the same old methods, that’s why we’re creating bold, direct, and truthful messages to meet people where they are. It’s about breaking through, creating content that demands attention, and educating in ways that resonate with this diverse audience.

The Common Power YouTube channel has expanded our reach, breaking us out of our liberal bubble, sparking healthy debate, and engaging folks across key demographics. Our videos are clipped for digestible snippets posted across Instagram and TikTok and optimized for virality, increasing our reach.

Building on our expansion of media, we’ll be featured in a national documentary “American Dignity,” a powerful film directed by Hanson Hosein and featuring our two favorite Charles’ - Charles Mauldin, civil rights hero, and Charles Douglas, CP Executive Director.

We’re not just talking at people, we’re engaging them. We’re meeting them on platforms they already trust, and offering a message they can learn from and share with their networks. This strategy will play out across our accounts from CP’s @ourcommonpower, CP Institutes @theinstitutecp, and Action Academy’s @actionacademy.

Mobilize Volunteers in Blue States

The bravest among us in red and purple states are in a constant battle to fight for the rights and freedoms our country has promised us. Blue states where more of those freedoms are enjoyed have an obligation to send our excess energy and resources to fight in these battleground states and districts around the country.

That’s why we’ve been traveling to key cities around the country, connecting with our volunteers in their home communities and cultivating new folks. If we’re going to Take the House, Beat Elon, and Support Fighters, we’ll need a steady stream of volunteers traveling from more progressive cities to the parts of our country that need it most. This has been Common Power’s model since 2018, and it’s been America’s model since the successes of the Civil Rights Movement. We win when we all put in on the line for each other.

Our strategy allows us to not only FIGHT BACK, but also fight FOR something.

If you’re ready to go on offense with us - the ball is in your court!

Volunteer With Us!

Sponsor A Doorknocker!

Kylie Knowles 10/22/24 Kylie Knowles 10/22/24

WA Blog Series: Odalis Octaviano

Hello! My name is Odalis Octaviano (she/her/ella) and I am a canvas lead this year for the Washington Weekends of Action for the Yakima Valley/legislative district 14.

I was inspired to sign up for the canvas lead position through MJ from CP. I was able to accompany her and a group last year in Sunnyside,WA as we canvassed the local school board elections. It was my first experience of canvassing and I loved the connection and my time with not only the voters of the doors we knocked on but also the team engagement with the rest of the group!

It felt rewarding to be able to inform registered voters and empower their voices in their communities.

As a canvas lead for this season, I enjoy helping make sure each volunteer is equipped with the necessary tools they need to have fun and know what to do while canvassing this district! I love being able to support the work being done in this district because it is incredible to be seeing the change and progress of voters feeling inspired or motivated to vote for these candidates

Legislative District 14 is unique because it has undergone some redistricting changes to help make sure the voters and leaders are able to represent and accommodate for the large Latine population in this area. This district is also made up of agricultural workers and smaller towns that are often not as connected to their political leaders when it comes to decision making. We are all hoping this new election brings along a change to all of this! Maria Beltran, a candidate whose campaign we are working with, won the majority vote during the primary elections which we also helped support in weeks leading up to the primary elections, which was such a huge and important win and a step forward for the general election! This win also showed that this election can be a short race but nonetheless has motivated us to continue to campaign and volunteer for a genuine candidate who is wanting to uplift and support the communities in this district.

We have had an overall very positive response at the doors, with registered voters who have been welcoming, inviting and eager to speak about important issues that they care about!

This population often does not get asked personally what their issues are of importance for, so it’s amazing to see how much each person shares about their life stories and hometown communities.

We have also seen how diverse the district is in its underlying issues from public safety, sanitation, education and worker’s rights. I’ve had experiences with voters where they were willing to express previous frustrations with their community elections due to a lack of change, and nonetheless people are still excited about a candidate who is truly genuine and wants to bring change to the district by increasing inclusivity and bringing more people into these conversations!

As someone who has family across this district, it’s been incredible to be able to have this engagement and connection with these communities to increase voter engagement in this area.

If you are considering volunteering with this district please sign up, even just for a day, there’s so much work to do right here in this state to give a voice to these underrepresented communities for these progressive leaders such as Maria Beltran! We are working with an awesome campaign and it’s so nice to see candidates canvass with their teams and to hear directly from them about their goals and plans for this district!

Kylie Knowles 10/22/24 Kylie Knowles 10/22/24

WA Blog Series: Theresa Mannix

Hello, CPers! I joined Common Power in 2020 and have door knocked in several states. What a fantastic experience! But this year I decided to concentrate in my home state of Washington in a very consequential race. There are a few reasons I decided to focus on WA D3 in southwest Washington and become a canvas lead with Cynthia Putnam.

**First, I am completely inspired by Marie herself!**

As a rural mom who works in the trades, she fights for working class families, supports reproductive rights, wants to expand the childcare tax credit, secure the border, invest in technical and career education for her district, and make things easier for small businesses to succeed. She’s rated one of the most bipartisan members of Congress—a sure sign she wants to get things done that will help her district.

**Second, the Democrats want to take back the House of Representatives; it’s imperative to hold onto incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Perez’s seat!**

Trump won this district by 4.2% in 2020; we must convince some voters to split their ballot this election. Finally, I believe her opponent is a danger to society. He is a Trump-endorsed, MAGA far-right candidate whose extreme views don’t reflect the district.

Marie’s district is varied--from urban Vancouver to coastal Pacific county and rural Lewis, southern Thurston, and Skamania counties. Common Power volunteers have canvassed in the cities, the suburbs and the rural areas. We go where Marie’s campaign thinks we’ll be most effective. We’re flexible! Each venue requires different tactics and strategies. The city of Vancouver is Marie’s stronghold, and our efforts there are to encourage Marie’s supporters to vote early, and encourage friends, family and neighbors to GOTV! The residents at one house said they had a block party the night before and everyone planned to vote for Marie! We had great conversations and were able to get a number of residents to put up yard signs. Rural areas, like Rochester, were a completely different scene, and posed some challenges. The turf was spread out, some houses were difficult to find. And a good number were inaccessible—barking doors, locked gates, and some residents who didn’t even want us on the roads. Despite this, and although this might be considered Republican territory, we found so many gracious, supportive people--like the man who had a giant white cross on his barn. Oh no, we thought, not a likely Marie supporter. But we were so wrong. Strong supporter! Goes to show you, we can’t make assumptions. And the volunteers—some experienced, some newbies--were remarkable and completely up to the task.

Door knocking for Marie is something that you can plan just a few days before we hit the pavement. You can decide to do a Saturday or a Sunday—or both! We often have carpools from the Seattle area.

If you want to spend the night, we’ll recommend a local hotel. Come join us in the last few weeks of this very important race! We would love to have you!

Check out all Marie did in Congress in 2023 and see what she plans to do in the future

Kylie Knowles 10/17/24 Kylie Knowles 10/17/24

WA Blog Series: Cynthia Putnam

What I learned from doorbelling for Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

Hi all. I’m Cynthia Putnam, a volunteer with Common Power’s (CP) Washington Weekends of Action. I live in Seattle in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. When the opportunity arose to support CP’s work in Washington State and to work with the amazing CP staffer, Maria Jimenez, I jumped on it. Together with Theresa Mannix, I co-lead weekend teams of volunteers to doorbell in the 3rd Congressional District (Vancouver-Centralia area) for Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Marie won by a mere 2,600 votes in 2022. Her opponent, Joe Kent, is challenging her again, and the race is tight.

In CP fashion, we’re partnering with the local field office of the Marie for Congress campaign. Our role is to support their doorbelling strategy to get Marie re-elected. We’ve been at it since July, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. In this blog, I share some of the highlights and big takeaways.

Doorbelling is targeted. We don’t go to a neighborhood and knock on every door. Who we target is determined by the local partner. In this campaign, we knocked on the doors of registered voters leaning democrat. Some were consistent voters while others were sporadic, voting in some elections and not others. This targeted approach improved the likelihood of meeting voters receptive to Marie’s work while minimizing angry or annoyed responses at the door.
Is doorbelling effective? This was a common question from conversations with friends, usually followed by “I don’t answer the door unless I know who’s there.” I asked this of myself before signing up to volunteer. Through my own research, I learned that it is effective, particularly for persuading voters in primary elections or local elections where the candidates are less well-known and voters’ opinions are less formed. We saw a marked improvement in voter familiarity with Marie’s name and her work in Congress as the summer progressed between July and September.
Asking questions of a voter is the best way to initiate a conversation. The answer they give to the simple question – “what issues are you concerned about?” -- can help us explain what Marie is doing to address their concern, be it education, jobs, crime and more.
Voters know less about their congressional reps than they do presidential and gubernatorial candidates (and it gets worse further down the ballot). Yet down ballot candidates for city, county and school board positions, once elected, make decisions that touch our lives in daily ways from the quality of our schools, policing, fire protection and emergency services, water, garbage and more. We gave examples of what Marie has done to support local needs by bringing dollars from the other Washington (Washington, DC) to expand technical college programs for good jobs that don’t require a degree, and for the I-5 bridge repair – a $660 million investment.
Washington’s election system makes it super easy for everyone to vote. We don’t need to waste time at the door explaining polling locations and where to vote. Instead, we focus on when ballots are due to arrive in the mail, and how and when to return them. For those who aren’t registered in the household, we explain how to get registered and the ease of doing it online.
Joe Biden won with 91 percent of Seattle voters. That tells me, as a Seattle resident, that I live the bluest of bubbles surrounded by people who reinforce my own values every day – in the grocery line, at the bus stop, in the locker room. While I may not agree with a voter’s opinion on a matter, it’s refreshing to hear different perspectives from the ones in my bubble. For example, the voter whose union leadership endorses Democrats while he and his co-workers vote Republican to “protect their industry”; the voters dependent on VA benefits who worked with Marie to stop the closure of local VA clinic; the voters whose biggest concern is protecting their freedom to bear arms. My voter stories have been the subject of some of the best, most meaningful conversations with friends and colleagues.

When I return to Seattle after a weekend knocking on doors, I like to take a couple of days of downtime to hike in the mountains and catch up with friends. Doorbelling isn’t for everyone, but if your interest is piqued in supporting Marie for Congress, I hope you’ll join us for an upcoming Washington Weekend of Action. And if doorbelling isn’t your thing, there are lots of other ways to engage. And Common Power is your one-stop shop!

Kylie Knowles 10/17/24 Kylie Knowles 10/17/24

WA Blog Series: Maria Jimenez

Hello, it’s Maria, also known as MJ in the CP community!

I am a Senior Fieldwork Program Manager and have been lucky enough to be part of a great team since 2019. Over the years with CP I have traveled to Florida, Arizona, Texas and Virginia. This year I was given the unique opportunity to lead efforts in my home state, the beautiful Evergreen State of Washington.

In early spring this year, Fieldwork launched “WA Weekends of Action” ; different from regular Common Power State teams and travel, these are local efforts that are flexible, short-2 day opportunities and only a driving distance within Washington State. Some may ask, why focus on Washington? What’s important this year that can truly impact the 2024 election?

In the last couple of years, Common Power has supported important races such as Congresswoman Kim Schrier in Washington’s 8th Congressional District. In the Fall of 2023, Washington’s Democratic Party Chair, Shasti Conrad, asked CP to support a slate of candidates running for City Council in Sunnyside. We are proud to say we were part of the efforts that placed Latinx representation in that City Council, a huge win for the community in that city.

Our presence, work, and dedication to these efforts were seen and valued. As a result, Washington Democratic Party asked Common Power for help in supporting work in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District to ensure Marie Gluesenkamp Perez secures her re-election for U.S House. They also asked us to continue our work in Eastern Washington, this time supporting Maria Beltran for State Senate in Washington’s newest Legislative District (LD 14) in the Yakima Valley.

Our top priority this year is to re-elect Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez for the U.S House. Her race against Trump-appointed candidate, Joe Kent is a toss-up meaning the margins are small, every conversation with voters matter and can truly make a huge difference in this race. I appreciate everyone who has been a part of this work. Although not a top priority, Maria Beltran’s race for State Senate in Yakima’s new legislative district is an opportunity to bring deserved representation to the Latinx communities living there. Also an important toss-up race we’re proud to support!

I invite you to consider joining our efforts to support Marie Gluesenkamp Perez or Maria Beltan. We have dates through the election! Visit our WA Weekends of Action One-Stop Shop for our sign-ups and more.

Check out additional blog posts for more on Washington efforts from our amazing Canvas lead’s perspectives — both of our Canvas leads Cynthia Putnam and Theresa Mannix leading work in 3rd Congressional District for Marie Gluesenkamp Perez as well as Odalis Octaviano leading work in Yakima for Maria Beltran.

In Community,