Hello, John! My name is Jules. I’m a hairdresser from Delaware, and not that long ago, I’d never even heard of DeShanna Neal — a WFP candidate who won her primary for State Representative here in Delaware last month by only 24 votes.
I got involved in DeShanna’s campaign, honestly, kind of by accident.
I’d never volunteered on a campaign before. In the last few years, I’ve been going to protests, I’ve been emailing my representatives, I’ve been making my voice heard on social media. But it wasn’t until a friend I met at a Black Lives Matter protest told me he was helping a State House candidate that I figured if he supported her, I probably did too. I decided to get involved.
The first time I volunteered, it was… nerve-wracking. It can sometimes be hard for me to have conversations with new people. But I was given a script to use, I knew which points to hit, and I knew who I could talk to if a voter asked something I couldn’t answer. Soon enough, I was in my element.
Volunteering on a campaign was so fulfilling for me. I’d recommend taking the leap and getting involved to anybody — because even one volunteer shift could end up making the difference.
Will you join an upcoming virtual WFP phone bank or text bank? We have opportunities in important races throughout the country, and there are only a few weeks left to get out the vote. Sign up for a shift here to help elect Working Families Party candidates from now through Election Day:
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The first time you volunteer to knock on doors, or to make calls, or text voters, it can be a little scary. But the people who you have conversations with make it so worth it.
I remember meeting someone we’d contacted before who wasn’t interested in talking at first, but then looked into DeShanna and was so excited to hear from us again. Our opponent had been his State Representative since 2008 — 16 years without a real challenger. Finally, this voter had a real choice for who he wanted to represent him at the State House, and he was making sure his whole family turned out and voted.
Another time, right before the election, I talked to a voter who had some concerns about DeShanna supporting legalizing marijuana. He was planning to vote for her opponent. But I was able to answer his questions about what legalizing marijuana would actually mean for our state, and that one conversation changed his mind.
These people I met (and others) got us some of the 24 votes that we won by, just enough to avoid an automatic recount by two votes! When I say that my volunteer shifts made a crucial difference in this election, it’s not an exaggeration. It’s just the truth. Their voices counted, and so did mine.
The midterm elections are next month, and I know there are going to be so many close races like this one — races that decide the future of our towns, our states, and our country. I’m excited to keep up the work, and I hope that you’ll join me. Find a virtual WFP phone bank or text bank this week, and help make the change our communities deserve.
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- Jules
