*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’re facing a presidency filled with uncertainty and we know this moment and our community demand action.

So we’re going On The Offense.

We took some time to further define our strategy for this year. CP has always been about creating a sustainable ecosystem that prioritizes youth development and moves people from education to action.

Now, we’re shifting gears to meet this moment with boldness and urgency.

At the crux of our strategy lie 4 primary goals:

Compete for the House
Organize Across The Nation
Educate Through The Noise
Develop Future Leaders

Compete for the House & Fight Elon Everywhere!

One thing we believe at Common Power is that we need to show up—every election, in every district that matters. In 2025, we’re tackling every special election and every key state race.

In January, we took to the streets of Virginia to help maintain a Democratic one-seat majority in the state House and Senate. Our door-knocking efforts were bigger than the vote margins. That’s the kind of energy we need to bring—everywhere.

**This year, we’re heading to:**

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

That’s not even half of it; we have over a dozen trips planned already, and rest assured, wherever Elon puts money, we will mobilize! Some of these races we have a solid chance of winning, but in states like FL the chances are slim and that’s okay.

Our fieldwork strategy also 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, then your seat is NOT safe.

For those of you in Seattle - we partnered with the Seattle Trouble Makers who are hosting the Friday Federal Workers protests at the Federal Building downtown. Our CP Staging Ground will be hosting their protest organizing team ahead of each Friday event, and we’ll continue opening our doors to CPers for sign making.

Join the Seattle Federal Building protests and stop by to say hi!

2. Organize Across The Nation

As national organizers, we’re uniquely positioned to stay engaged with voters during major election cycles and outside of them. That’s why we’re organizing Common Power hubs that will serve as critical points for volunteer engagement and voter mobilization. We’ll meet vital communities where they are, listen to their concerns, and work to organize efforts that are closer to home.

We’ll start organizing in Chicago on March 14-15 followed by community events in Los Angeles from March 22-23.

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.

3. Educate Through The Noise

A key 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 a diverse audience.

This started earlier this year with The Institute for Common Power’s Democracy Curriculum— a series of programs ranging from The Banned Book Club, amazing lectures, and an upcoming Learning Tour through the American South.

The Institute has also made efforts to expand its content and audience with new forms of content on social media. Make sure to give them a follow!

Building on our expansion of media, we were 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 Douglass, 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.

4. Develop Future Leaders

As our democracy faces unprecedented challenges, we need leaders who are prepared to carry on the fight. That’s why leadership development is at the heart of our work. If you’ve knocked on doors with us, then you’ve likely seen the impact of Action Academy—our flagship program that trains college aged students in history, civics, and leadership development. Last year, we graduated 125 students, our largest cohort yet.

This year, the energy is only growing as we have already tripled the number of applicants within the first 3 weeks of opening the application!

And for students who want to go even further, we’ve launched our National Fellows program where we select 8-10 of our brightest graduates across six states to receive hands-on leadership development. This program will refine their skills, sharpen their expertise, and help them become the kind of leaders who not only make a difference but multiply their impact.

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!

2025 Strategy