Battleground State Plan 2024
Who is PowerPAC?
PowerPAC is an organization that champions democracy and social justice in states and communities across the country. We work to support progressive candidates, increase the vote share of BIPOC and progressive voters and build political power. PowerPAC is made up of 4 organizations to accomplish our mission:
1. PowerPAC Foundation – a 501(c)(3) organization.
2. PowerPAC.org – a 501(c)(4) organization.
3. PowerPAC Voter Fund – a California state PAC (and other state pacs).
4. PowerPAC+ – a federal PAC.
PowerPAC has been at the forefront of difficult and challenging elections over the past 15 years. First created to support grassroots powerbuilding in 4 California counties, we have helped elect candidates and pass ballot initiatives at every level of government: regional, state and federal. PowerPAC was first to support candidates such as Barack Obama’s primary challenge in 2008, Stacey Abrams (GA), Mandela Barnes (WI), Kamala Harris (CA), Micheal Tubbs (CA), Karen Bass (CA), Adrian Fontes (AZ) and many others. PowerPAC has also collaborated with other statewide groups to end the death penalty, fight for better environmental policies, and for voting rights legislation.
We engage in this work in four keyways:
Research and Analysis
Research and analysis including identifying key strategies to move significant voting populations in support of progressive issues and candidates.
Campaign Skills
Sophisticated campaign skills built out of experience in hundreds of grassroots and electoral campaigns.
Fundraising
Sophisticated campaign skills built out of experience in hundreds of grassroots and electoral campaigns.
Technology
Building and utilizing low cost and effective proprietary tech to maximize engagement.
PowerPAC’s Landscape Analysis and Challenges
2023 and the 2024 Presidential cycle pose some new and recurring challenges. New in the landscape is the dissemination of misinformation and right-wing support of fake and/or misleading news outlets augmented by the incredible challenges that artificial intelligence (AI) poses. It will wreak havoc on news and political communications, as well as challenge our ability to get the truth out and ensure that our voters are well informed.
One recurring threat across the country is the mega-wealth being amassed by fossil fuel billionaires and right-wing political donors. This cabal of villains is focused on making sure that the courts and legislative bodies are making them wealthier, while attacking us on all fronts from civil rights to workers’ rights to voting rights. Our strategy is designed to take them on over the next two years and ensure we can win the battle against this very secretive cabal of rich and powerful “Villains”.
Another recurring threat is lack of investment in community organizing, also known as Integrated Voter Engagement (IVE), between federal election cycles (such as 2023). This is the time when grassroots organizations hone their skills, build their base, and master necessary technology. All of which they will use to turn out supporters in down ballot races, ultimately benefiting the top of ticket state and federal races.
The Challenge of the Long Tail1
A major problem in current traditional approaches to electoral campaigning is in losing the battle of the “Long Tail.” The following is a graphic showing the results of too many of our state and national campaigns and why the “Down is What’s Up!” approach described below is so crucial.
This shows where Chief Justice Beasley won and lost last year in her bid for US Senate. The depth of support in the large metropolitan areas is supposed to compensate for the losses in the small counties. Time and time again the graph of results will look like this in most if not all battleground states. WI, GA, PA, MI, WI, and so on will reflect this result. And it can also be seen in TX, LA, FL, and other red states that could turn purple or even blue.
Though every traditional consultant will acknowledge this is true they won’t acknowledge the effect of this approach or the weaknesses. There are a whole series of problems but here are the top 3. First this leads to the idea that urban voters of color should outperform their conservative white counterparts in turnout. This is an unreasonable expectation. Second is that messaging is driven by research concepts that are quickly becoming outdated. Third is that divisions between high urban voters and rural voters intensifies the division between urban progressive voters and rural conservative voters. We must be developing a progressive to moderate alignment of voters led by a multi-racial messaging and ground strategy.
That is why in all the states we focus we look at ways to directly take on this challenge. As a result, for example, we had great success in WI improving Evers support in 22 smaller communities including Kenosha and Green Bay. We have additional examples of this success.
1 The Long Tail is a business term referring to the voluminous smaller product markets within a business vertical that makes up the same sized or larger customer base as the blockbuster or bestseller base.
PowerPAC’s Strategy
PowerPAC has a strategic approach to winning elections and building long-term power in 10-12 battleground states in 2023 leading to the 2024 November general election.
- Build a coalition of community organizations and progressive movements behind leaders who can make a difference.
- Strengthen local and statewide IVE networks in power building to sustain the coalition over the long term.
- Increase turnout and vote-share to impact elections in states where a sustainable progressive and multiracial movement can be built.
Our Plan
We increase voter turnout and enhance coalition partner’s long-term power in target states. PowerPAC would invest heavily in these states to increase capacity, increase their base, and improve electoral outcomes.
Our basic budgets for each state:
- Research and Analysis (10%)
- Targeted Field – Rural, Urban and Suburban (45%)
- Signature Events (5%)
- Digital Organizing (30%)
- Administration, Operating and Finance (10%)
Our Tools
Down Is What’s UP!
In battleground states our goal is to identify and support down ballot races that will motivate regional/local voters to turnout, shift regional/local power and thereby support top of ballot elections through the 2024 presidential election cycle.
We will use all of our tools and technology to identify supporters and move them along a spectrum of engagement, ultimately motivating them to participate in the electoral process to build power and co-governance for the long-term.
- Build regional grassroots coalitions
- Expand the electorate
- Identify progressive policy and/or progressive candidate supporters
- Identify the villains
- Mobilize ID’s to boost election turnout
Shift the Narrative
Utilizing issues such as environmental legislation, criminal justice, and the culture wars to unite organizations and communities in coalition for change, PowerPAC will use its vast network and tools to assess, shape and improve state coalition’s ability to conduct leadership development, voter engagement (field and communications), and policy advocacy. This will increase their capacity, but also build power over the long term.
Learn More About Our Strategy Plans: State-by-State
From Candidates to Issues
PowerPAC implements campaigns at every level.