What I Heard Canvassing in a Swing District
Yom Kippur begins on Sunday night, when we atone for actions or inaction we regret from the past year and think about how we can do better in the coming year.
We all vividly remember the day after the 2016 election, asking ourselves what more we could have done to change the outcome of that race. While I can’t say what it would take to have no regrets in 5787 for anyone other than myself, my answer contributed to my decision this week to canvass and speak with voters in Ohio. I don’t want to wake up on November 4th asking myself what more I could have done in this election, and – as we’ve learned the hard way – polls don’t vote, people do.
The polling tells us that Democrats have momentum heading into the midterms. This week, a New York Times poll indicated that Democrats hold a nine-point lead in the generic ballot for Congress. Trump has a 28% approval on cost-of-living and affordability, which is the top issue driving voters, including Jewish voters, in this election.
This is what I found to be the case among voters in Ohio, but victory in November isn’t guaranteed or something Democrats can take for granted. While Democrats appear to be on the path to winning back the House, and now have a realistic chance of winning back the Senate, it will take our collective efforts to make it happen. In addition, the chances of Republicans denying and attempting to subvert the outcome of the election are not insignificant. They’re diminished if the “blue wave” is more like a tsunami, which is why it’s all the more important to fight for each and every vote.
That’s what I did this week, canvassing in a battleground district in a battleground state, speaking with a wide range of voters ahead of Yom Kippur. This wasn’t your typical Get Out the Vote effort speaking to an echo chamber of Democrats. Rather, I was speaking with all voters, asking how they feel about the direction of the country and how it will shape their vote.
What I found is that the American people are hurting in this economy, and they rightfully blame Donald Trump. They are complying with his demand to pretend he’s on the ballot in the midterms, and it’s not good news for the GOP. The economy isn’t working for the vast majority of working-class Americans, and one man I spoke with, a veteran, expressed deep concern about the impact of the never-ending war in Iran.
An Independent voter told me she was a “Christian,” and I responded by telling her that I’m Jewish and that’s why I’m working to elect Democrats who align with my fundamental values. A Republican told one of our canvassers that while his life was going well, he understood others were suffering, and that’s why he’s more likely to vote for Democrats in the midterms.
Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike are very upset. One woman teared up and explained she was trying to avoid the tyranny of Trump-related news. Despite her enthusiastic support for Democrats, she didn’t want to display a yard sign in such a politically diverse neighborhood. I told her that I understood, after having met some of her neighbors. There were a handful of homes with Trump signs and MAGA paraphernalia, and – despite my attempts to engage these voters – they seemed angrier than anyone else we encountered. The painful truth is that they likely weren’t as mad about the smiling canvassers as they are about being lied to, used, and betrayed by the President of the United States.
I got the clear sense that this widespread anger toward Donald Trump – coupled with enthusiasm for strong Democratic candidates – will translate into votes for Democrats this November. Unlike the canvassing I’ve done in past elections, we didn’t encounter any Democratic voters wavering in their support. They are all enthusiastic and ready to vote. The same cannot be said for Republicans, whose loyalty to their party appeared in question and whose enthusiasm to vote was negligible. Everyone we engaged in conversation with is fed up with Trump and his destructive machinations.
There are 46 days until November 3, and you don’t want to wake up with regret on November 4th. Join and support JDCA’s efforts to engage voters by clicking on the links below – we have opportunities to volunteer in over 15 states, with more than 200 shifts to choose from – and I’ll be joining you. I’m going to canvass or phone bank every week between now and Election Day, and we hope you will join or support these efforts. Every knock, call, and contribution makes a difference, and now is the time to join us and take action.
Wishing you Shabbat Shalom and an easy fast,
Halie Soifer
CEO, Jewish Democratic Council of America