6 tips for IE

6 Tips for Your Independent Expenditure Campaign

by Elizabeth Rowe (She/Her)

Many people think about creating an independent expenditure campaign (IE campaign), but very few will actually take the time to do it. If you don't know a lot about IE’s, check out our IE FAQ here. IE campaigns should work to accomplish two goals:

Do no harm (to your candidate). A poorly run IE campaign can hurt more than it helps. Make sure you are working with attorneys and a professional team to understand the right message and applicable laws to your campaign.

Do something that benefits your desired outcome. You don’t have to run a duplication of the candidate’s campaign to be successful. The best IE campaigns have a very specific goal and follow through on executing a plan that focuses on their goal.

The Elephant in the Room

Interview with Seth Masket about The Elephant in the Room

by Elizabeth Rowe (She/Her)

Seth Masket is a political scientist, professor, and author. Seth has written multiple books, including No Middle Ground, which explores how the United States has shifted toward candidates that represent ideological extremes, The Inevitable Party, which examines different attempts to change the current party system and why they failed, and Learning From Loss, a book that walks readers through the Democratic party’s response to the 2016 election up to 2020. Currently, he is writing another book, The Elephant in the Room, which he expects to publish in 2025. Seth is a Professor at the University of Denver, where he also serves as the Director of the Center on American Politics. This week, we asked Seth questions about his life and career path.

The Fifth Vote

Interview with David Pepper about The Fifth Vote

by Elizabeth Rowe (She/Her)

David Pepper is a lawyer, writer, political activist, former elected official, and adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Law where he teaches election and voting rights. Previously, he served as a councilman for the city of Cincinnati, a member of the Hamilton County, Ohio Board of Commissioners, and the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party from 2015 to 2021. David is a strong advocate for voter rights and has engaged in numerous fights and extensive litigation involving voter suppression and election laws. He recently released his sixth book and fourth novel, The Fifth Vote. This week, we asked him 7 questions.

Midterm Elections

Midterm Elections - How Should a Democratic Campaign Plan?

by Joe Fuld (He/Him)

As you plan for midterm elections, especially if you’re progressive democrat, you may not want to leave your house. With all the things going on in the country it may seem like the midterm elections are a forgone conclusion and not in a good way. Historical trends come to a similar conclusion.

Donkey and elephant face off Learning from loss

7 Qs Seth Masket Learning From Loss The Democrats

by Joe Fuld (He/Him)

Seth Masket is a professor of political science and the director of the Center on American Politics at the University of Denver. His academic and research interests include political polarization, state and local politics, and campaigns and elections.

Stressed woman with laptop

Election Stress: How Can You Deal Election Week Stress?

by Joe Fuld (He/Him)

As someone who has been in the world of elections for 30 years, election stress has been a constant in my life and those around me. But this year it is even more stressful

Voting Machine Hal Malchow

Hal Malchow - 7 questions on 42 Million to One

by Joe Fuld (He/Him)

Hal Malchow is the former Chairman of MSHC partners, which was a political consulting firm that pioneered the use of statistical modeling and control group experiments in politics. His work in changing campaign politics is chronicled in Sasha Issenberg’s 2011 book, The Victory Lab, The Secret Science of Winning Campaigns.

Woman looking at mail in ballot by a mail box - Vote by mail

Vote by Mail FAQs

by The Campaign Workshop

A hot topic for this coming election is how many people will vote by mail. With COVID-19 still rampant in the U.S., voting by mail will be a critical part of the November 3rd election. But whether or not you’re eligible to vote by mail depends on where you live, even down to the county level. Read on to find out more information on how to vote by mail.

Monkey and kids wearing tin foil hats and 3D movie glasses with radio and notepad

Wacky Ways to Make Presidential Election Predictions

by Joe Fuld (He/Him)

Looking for accurate presidential election predictions? As Election Day approaches, it seems like every news channel will reference the latest polls or how many points ahead Trump or Biden are in the race for the White House. But as scientific and data centric as polls can be, there are a few unconventional ways to make presidential election predictions, and most are eerily correct.

Presidential Election Predictions Crystal ball sitting on a map

Presidential Election Predictions, Are They Accurate? | Predicting Elections 2020

by Joe Fuld (He/Him)

We are often asked to predict the future in politics—especially when it comes to Presidential Election Predictions However, being a political consultant does not mean being the best judge of what will happen on Election Day. We are determined to help our candidates win, and that can make us less objective in predicting electoral odds than we should be.

Pile of mail-in voting envelopes and "I Voted" stickers and an American flag

Debunking the Myth of Mail-In Ballot Voter Fraud

by Elena Veatch

No one should have to choose between making their voice heard in a pivotal presidential election and risking their life by voting in person during a pandemic. That’s why states have taken measures in 2020 to make mail-in voting easier for and accessible to more voters. This fall, states like California are automatically sending ballots in the mail to all registered voters (rather than just those who explicitly request a ballot).

Post office delays

Post Office Delays Impact Mail Delivery and 2020 Campaigns

by Joe Fuld (He/Him) and Ben Holse (He/Him)

Have you experienced post office delays? Beyond the current political dysfunction, USPS has fallen victim to inconsistent funding, under-capitalization, ill-timed cost cutting measures and a lack of respect for the system and its workforce. On top of the ongoing pandemic, USPS will be facing an unprecedented influx of absentee ballots.