My wife and I spent six weekends this Fall canvassing local registered voters on behalf of Adams County Democrats. The weather’s been great, and the work satisfying.
As you may know, the “science” of political campaigning says that the most efficient and effective use of a volunteer’s time is knocking on the doors of that party’s own registered voters. The goal is to boost their enthusiasm and determination to vote; make sure they know their polling place; understand the vote-by-mail process and deadlines; and make sure they have a plan to vote.
So for the most part, campaigns don’t encourage volunteers to spend precious time speaking with members of the opposing party or even independent voters.
That said, the data algorithms the campaigns apply do identify some registered voters from the opposing party as well as independent voters earmarked as “may be persuadable.”
The voter contact lists I have been assigned this fall were indeed overwhelmingly populated with registered Democrats, but perhaps 10 – 12% were registered as Republican or Libertarian, and another 5-7% Independents.
Let me share my experience.
With extremely rare exceptions, the registered Democrats would not miss this election for anything – to quote the Rolling Stones, “Wild Horses Couldn’t Keep Them Away.”
But we expected that.
What was even more satisfying were the conversations we were privileged to have with those registered as “R” and “I”.
Some anecdotes:
· A retired couple who have already turned in ballots that broke their lifelong allegiance to the Republican Party. Election denialism, and especially January 6 – broke that bond. They expressed bewilderment about how their Republican friends have remained with the former President. They finally chalked it up to “tribalism.”
· The frail but feisty 80-something lady – a lifelong Republican (“by family tradition,” she said) who has broken from Trump over his vulgarity, racism, and recent incoherence. She will not only vote “D” down the line, but will also be sure to transport her even frailer Democrat husband to the polls. When I asked if we could help with transportation, she declined. I think she may want to do it herself to put an exclamation point on her disappointment with her former party.
· The Independent couple who invited me to sit on their porch while they expressed their disgust (and even alarm) with Trump’s behavior, and hope that their granddaughter would not have to face an America shaped by MAGA.
· The retired banker and teacher, both lifelong Republicans, who have already turned in ballots, voting “D” down the line. “This is not my father’s Republican party,” was her sentiment.
The point?
If you, like some of the folks I spoke with, are Republicans troubled by Trump’s behavior and alarmed by his apparent incoherence, but still in his corner because “we always vote Republican here,” you can – like those folks I profiled above – break with him, and still be a Republican.
Think hard about that.
Kevin McDonald spent more than 40 years in healthcare administration in strategic planning and communications roles for hospitals and health systems in several states, as well as in public agencies that regulated health care, He retired from the Maryland Health Care Commission in 2021 and moved to Gettysburg in 2022. On the side, he ran marathons and wrote a weekly column for the Bennington (VT) Banner, and also served on Bennington-area school boards for nine years.
Kevin, you never contacted me, nor has anyone else from the Democratic Party, but I fit in your group. I’ve been registered Republican for decades, but have already voted Harris with no regrets. I’m glad to know there are others out there like me. Hopefully we will make a difference. Then hopefully by 2028 the Republican Party can adjust back to being a party I feel I can consider voting for again. They can put aside the pettiness and name calling. They can work with Democrats, even when they lose, for the betterment of our country. They can realize our… Read more »