Uniting California Hits Milestone, Ramps Up Efforts to Engage Voters in California Congressional Districts on Pivotal Issues
Organizers have knocked on over 65,000 doors and had over 50,000 conversations in person and over the phone with voters
SAN FRANCISCO — At the start of 2018, Uniting California is doubling down on its effort to educate Californians about Congressional Republicans’ votes to sell out their constituents for the wealthy and corporations. Since launching last October, Uniting California has knocked on over 65,000 doors and had conversations with over 50,000 voters in person and over the phone in targeted districts.
Uniting California — an effort by NextGen America and the California Labor Federation — is educating and engaging voters in seven GOP-held districts — CA-10 (Rep. Denham), CA-21 (Rep. Valadao), CA-25 (Rep. Knight), CA-39 (Rep. Royce retiring), CA-45 (Rep. Walters), CA-48 (Rep. Rohrabacher), CA-49 (Rep. Issa retiring) — where Trump’s congressional allies are putting party and corporate profits ahead of the American people.
“Congressional Republicans have pushed to gut access to healthcare, give tax breaks to the wealthy, bully young immigrants, and endanger our air, water, and coastlines,” said NextGen America President Tom Steyer. “Californians deserve representatives who will fight for their interests and stand up for our fundamental rights. Across the state, we’ve seen that progressives are energized like never before, and Uniting California is stepping up our efforts to reach Californians so they know their representatives are voting lock step with Paul Ryan and Donald Trump’s agenda.”
“We have encountered so many Californians who are deeply anxious about the direction of our country,” said California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski. “Politicians in Washington, DC are making decisions that have a profound effect on the lives of working people on issues ranging from health care to jobs and taxes. Uniting California is committed to helping voters engage on the issues they care most about through on-the-ground organizing. When we talk to voters one-on-one it’s the best way to hold these politicians accountable for hurting California families to appease wealthy and well-connected political donors.”
Through Uniting California, NextGen and the California Labor Federation are working with local organizations to connect with voters on a personal level, holding neighborhood canvasses and phone banks, and using digital tools like peer-to-peer text messaging and social media. By partnering with grassroots organizations that have strong connections to their communities, the effort is educating and engaging voters on the local issues that matter most to them — including economic prosperity, health care, racial and environmental justice, and quality education.
Progressives across the state are already stepping up their voter education efforts in advance of the midterm elections. This past Saturday, NextGen America President Tom Steyer and Los Angeles Federation of Labor President Rusty Hicks joined local progressive groups to fire up over 350 volunteers in Palmdale, CA. Following the rally, volunteers knocked on doors and talked to voters in the CA-25 about Congressman Steve Knight’s votes to strip health insurance from his constituents, allow fossil fuel corporations to pollute our air and water, and cut essential services to working families.
Last week, the California Labor Federation released a new poll showing that Californians, especially millennials and Latinos, are fed up with Republican efforts to sell out the American people. Progressives are organized and ready to hold Republicans accountable, and Uniting California will use this momentum to educate and engage voters over the next several months.