For too long, Democrats have relied on a broken boom-and-bust cycle that sits on our resources until the last minute and then tries to deploy them in a spending blitz in the closing weeks before Election Day. The reasoning, according to those who stand to benefit from a cut of that spending, is that we need to wait until voters are actually paying attention to try to win their support.
I reject that idea wholeheartedly. When I was chair of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, we went 25-0 in statewide elections because we invested in party building year-round. We didn’t sit on cash, we put it to work to earn the trust of voters well before election season. This ethos is summed up in our motto: organize everywhere and compete everywhere so we can win anywhere.
Make no mistake, this DNC has raised a record amount from both major donors and grassroots supporters when compared to the last midterm cycle in Trump’s term.
Our finance team has raised 30% more than at this point in the 2018 cycle and more than $20 million in 2026 alone. Going into the 2026 midterms, we have 74 National Finance Committee members who have contributed $100,000 or more — compared to the 47 we had at this point in the 2018 cycle. Meanwhile, our grassroots mobilization team has also raised twice as much — $60 million more — than at this point in 2018.
At the DNC, we take our responsibility to our grassroots supporters seriously. When a registered nurse in Kentucky pitches in $25, or a teacher in North Carolina sets up a recurring contribution of $10 a month, we put that money towards the tenacious, dogged work that wins elections.
Over the past 19 months, we’ve taken our winning strategy nationwide — by increasing the amount of money that the DNC sends to our state parties so they can build the infrastructure necessary to win. Because transparency is important, and because we want every grassroots supporter to know where their money is going, here are some examples of what the DNC has been investing in:
ARIZONA
Our investments in the Arizona Democratic Party have helped local county parties fund voter registration efforts tailored to their communities. The funding will also help counties protect the vote ahead of the crucial 2026 midterms, including recruiting, training, and organizing poll watchers and supporting other election-protection efforts.
FLORIDA
Thanks to the expanded support from the DNC, the Florida Democratic Party has been able to expand their year-round organizing operation, including hiring a full-time field director as well as coordinated director during the off-year. The battle-tested experience that these early hires have accumulated over the course of the cycle will make a huge difference to get out the vote and juice turnout across the Sunshine State.
MAINE
The money that we’ve invested in the Maine Democratic Party has helped fund staff positions to expand the party’s full-time, professional operation. When the moment demanded an inclusive and democratic nominating process for a new Senate candidate, Maine Democrats delivered, pulling off an efficient state-wide convention without a hitch.
COLORADO
The DNC’s consistent investments have empowered the Colorado state party to scale up its voter protection efforts three months ahead of the traditional timeline. The party hired a dedicated voter protection director in May and has trained poll workers and attorneys during the primary so they are prepared for what may come their way during the general election. The state party has also launched a program called the “Colorado County Comeback“ to support rural, often overlooked counties that will be the key to flipping seats in November.
WASHINGTON
Our monthly investments in the Evergreen State have allowed the Washington State Democratic Party to launch a year-round organizing program, led by a full-time director and two regional organizers. One of the first organizers hired is in Washington’s Third District, a frontline district in 2026. The early investments have allowed the coordinated campaign to start earlier than ever before, with organizers hitting the doors in February for deep listening canvasses, as opposed to the usual start in June.
MISSOURI
The funding provided by the DNC has allowed Missouri Democrats to purchase a headquarters in Jefferson City for the first time since 2018. This physical presence goes hand in hand with an expanded communications team to increase both the quality and quantity of online content to expand our reach on more platforms. In addition, the monthly support allowed the state party to hire an organizer for ballot initiatives and host Camp Carnahan, annual candidate training that gives substance and tools for candidates.
With just 75 days until Election Day, our challenge as Democrats is to rise to the occasion and deliver for the people of this country. I know we’re up to it.
We need to restore Americans’ trust in a democracy that can still deliver — in a government that can actually make lives better.
And to do that, Democrats, we need to show up. We need to give communities a reason to trust us. Not by parachuting in three months before Election Day. Not with a flashy ad campaign or a celebrity endorsement. But with the honest-to-goodness work of grassroots organizing.
That is what the Democratic Party was founded on. That is where its future lies. And that is why we are investing our hard-earned resources in the work that wins elections.
In every corner of our country, from Michigan to Missouri, Arizona to Georgia, Democrats are showing up.
Across the country, Democrats hired staff during the off-year, are maintaining permanent capacity, and are opening new field offices by moving away from a broken system of boom-and-bust cycles.
We’re listening to those who feel forgotten by politics, ignored by politics, and even targeted by politics.
And we’re showing that we can bring people together whose lives may look very different, but whose hopes for our country are remarkably similar. If this sounds like something that you want to be a part of, then the doors of our big tent Democratic Party are open to you.
You can learn more about our efforts by going to democrats.org and getting involved. None of this work would be possible without supporters like you, so from everyone at the DNC, thank you for your commitment to building a better future for our country.
Onward,
Ken
This is a really good start at communicating better about what the DNC is doing, and has been doing. Main stream media has blown up the narrative that the DNC hasn’t been raising money, is in debt. While the reality is as you describe - putting money that comes in to work right away. Even a little debt from time to time has been a normal part of how the DNC (and RNC for that matter work). I think the strategy to boost state parties is so critical (and long overdue). Many thanks for recognizing that and doing something about it.
Ken, thank you for your work and your vision.