Hi there,
Today, I’m thrilled to announce the nationwide launch of Swing Left’s Ground Truth program!
It’s a bold new approach to voter contact that represents a radical shift in how Democrats connect with voters. Because we know we can’t keep doing the same old things to win competitive elections and flip the House.
Despite strong wins in states like Virginia, California, and New Jersey this year, the Democratic brand is still damaged after the 2024 elections, and we can’t take anything for granted. If we want to carry this year’s momentum into 2026 and 2028, we need to know more about the people who swung toward Democrats this year—and could swing our way in the future.
Ground Truth is designed to help Democratic campaigns find, understand, and serve these voters. To win, we need to start earlier, knock every door, listen, not lecture, and leverage new tech to effectively share what we learn with campaigns and party committees. This is so they can effectively strengthen their messaging, targeting, and outreach strategies in ways that haven't been possible before.
If you’re interested, here’s the first action you can take: Sign up for our "Inside Ground Truth" national strategy call on Tuesday, December 9th. You'll get an inside look at what we’ve learned this year, and how you can get involved with Ground Truth as we expand it to the most important swing districts nationwide.
We’ve spent the past few months piloting Ground Truth in swing districts across the country, and what we’ve seen has been illuminating.
At one door in New York’s 17th congressional district, a man told me he used to vote for Democrats but wasn’t sure anymore. He said he felt like politicians talked at him, not with him. We talked for ten minutes about the cost of living, his kids, and what he wanted for his community.
He didn’t need a pitch—he needed to be heard. And that conversation was just one example. Voters consistently say they are surprised—and encouraged—that Democrats are showing up to listen rather than just ask for votes. Many are eager to talk, underscoring that deep listening can help rebuild trust in places where it has eroded.
Our pilot canvasses also revealed potential gains to be made among voters whom voter files classify as Republican. About 1 in 4 of those voters actually expressed explicit concern about Trump, openness to voting for Democrats, or alignment with progressive priorities. This shows that expanding who we talk to and improving how we talk with them can uncover meaningful new support that traditional voter outreach methods would miss.
That’s why Ground Truth is so important. Volunteers have real, human conversations with every voter—starting with listening, not transactional, shallow scripts. Then, using new technology we helped design, we’ll share what we learn directly with campaigns, so they can respond to what voters actually experience in their daily lives.
The results from the elections earlier this month show we have the potential to win back many of the voters Democrats lost in 2024. The data we’ve gleaned from hundreds of Ground Truth conversations so far have reaffirmed for me that this is the pathway to doing so.
To get an inside look at what we learned from Ground Truth pilot canvasses and what comes next, sign up for the "Inside Ground Truth" national strategy call on December 9th.
I hope to see you there,
Yasmin Radjy
Executive Director, Swing Left
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Since 2017, Swing Left has channeled the energy of grassroots volunteers and donors to elect Democrats, up and down the ballot, focusing on the most competitive races that can swing the national balance of power. Right now, Swing Left is investing in early grassroots organizing in key swing districts and initiatives across the country to lay the foundation to win back the House in 2026. If you’d like to help support our work, you can make a donation using this link. |
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Paid for by Swing Left, swingleft.org, not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
