TB: In 2021, VA Republicans swept the executive offices, won back the House of Delegates, and got extremely close to a majority in the Senate as well. What can we learn from that election?
TN: So I think in 2021, we underestimated the surge in Republican voters. We did a lot of work to try to increase turnout, particularly among our base voters, people of color, young folks, etc. And we achieved that. And at the same time, our increase in 2021 did not match the increase on the other side. Collectively, there was not enough emphasis on the issues that voters actually cared about. What we were hearing on the doors and on the ground weren’t necessarily being addressed across the board by every campaign and every organization. And at the same time, Republicans had a message around those issues. Whether voters agreed with Republicans’ solution or not, at least Republicans addressed the issues that voters cared about.
TB: What have you heard from voters this year that has surprised you or maybe that didn’t surprise you?
TN: I always say it's not rocket science. We've been on the doors for months now and have had tens of thousands of conversations with folks. It wouldn't surprise you that economic stability and economic anxiety are top of mind, especially around the affordable housing crisis. Folks are feeling economic anxiety over whether or not they can afford regular living expenses. And then education and gun safety are top issues. We've had an alarming increase in mass shootings and everyday gun violence in our streets and in our neighborhoods. And then, of course, abortion and health care access. So those are not sexy issues. I think there’s often this fixation on trying to find the sexy issue. And that's not how this works.
TB: We’ve spent a lot of time at VSA reminding folks that they have an election with enormous stakes every 2 years—because it’s true. How do you keep people engaged when they have critical elections every single year?
TN: Virginia has elections every year and it's a blessing and a curse. And sometimes we have multiple elections. I mean, I think I've voted six times since last November already. We love our elections, we love democracy, but there's a lot of voter fatigue. One of the things that we strive for is just to keep engaged with people. We don't necessarily just talk to them when there's an election coming up because that feels very transactional.
I think what's particularly hard this year is that a lot of folks aren't necessarily aware that there's an election. I think the media is so focused on the presidential elections and that has subsumed the conversation so that when we say, ”hey there's an election coming up,” they're like, “oh yeah, but that's like the presidential, that's next year.” I'm like, “No, no, we got one more like, right now.”
TB: How do you stay hopeful and engaged in this fight? What keeps you going?
TN: I think looking back at some of the gains we’ve made and how they have directly impacted a lot of people's lives. When we expanded health care access to 400,000 Virginians, when we restored voting rights, and did all of this stuff, we saw the direct impact. I think that keeps us in this fight.
TB: How can people help?
TN: Pay attention. Spread the word to let people know that there's a lot at stake right now. [editor's note: one great way to spread the word is to forward this email to someone 😜] We're just a small state out of 50, but what happens here this year, I think, is a good indicator of what we might expect in 2024, not only for the outcome of the elections, but also what people are talking about and what tactics and strategies are being deployed right now. Whatever works here they’re going to bring to other states. And so it's coming to a state near you very, very soon.
