Hi John,
Last week we emailed you about Swing Left’s two main priorities in this year’s midterms: transforming the way Democrats do voter contact with our innovative Ground Truth program, and raising money for Democratic candidates in our 33 target swing districts.
Today, we want to take a deeper dive into the fundraising part of our plan and explain why early money can make such a big difference to a candidate’s chances of winning.
➡️ First, campaigns need money to hire staff—from organizers who recruit and train volunteers, event planners to help the candidate meet voters across their district, and communicators who make sure voters hear the campaign’s message.
Hiring early in campaigns matters for the same reason it matters at any job. Someone who starts with time to get up to speed and build a plan will always be more effective than someone thrown into a job at the last minute.
When campaigns can hire months ahead of Election Day, those teams have time to bring in more volunteers, knock more doors, make more calls, and connect with voters in a thoughtful way. Waiting until the fall means scrambling to catch up.
➡️ Second, it takes resources to reach voters—whether through TV, radio, and online ads or through in-person organizing and events. Ad space becomes more expensive as Election Day approaches because inventory gets more scarce, so candidates who can buy early get better ad placements at lower costs.
Plus, some of the incumbent Democrats we’re supporting this year, like Derek Tran in California’s 45th Congressional District and Greg Landsman in Ohio’s 1st, are introducing themselves to many voters for the first time due to the redistricting that took place last year. Early money allows them to get started building those relationships now.
➡️ Third, early money can determine how competitive a race even becomes. In districts held by Democrats, showing strength early can deter Republicans from entering the race at all. In many states, candidates don’t even have to decide whether to run until the spring—and a well-funded campaign signals that an incumbent is prepared and not an easy target.
In Republican-held districts, Democrats who win contested primaries often come out of them low on cash, while their Republican opponents are ready to go on the offensive immediately. In these cases, early money can help tremendously as they respond to Republican attack ads and build a general election campaign.
That’s what makes Swing Left’s strategy of raising money for nominee funds so impactful. In districts with contested primaries, your donations are held securely in a fund that will be immediately released to the eventual Democratic nominee as soon as they win their primary, giving them an immediate infusion of cash.
Recent polling and special election wins show Democrats have momentum heading into the midterms. But that momentum will mean nothing if campaigns don’t have the resources to capitalize on it now.
So if you’re in a position to donate, please consider making a contribution of $25, or any amount that makes sense for you, to Swing Left and the Democratic nominees in all 33 of our target swing districts today.
Thank you, as always, for everything you do,
— The Swing Left Team
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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.
