October Surprise!*
We put on our Brave Pants and knocked doors for Dems last weekend. Here’s how it went in Tucson, AZ, a key battleground state.
It’s Day of the Dead, Darlin’. 💀 Today, as I celebrate one year on Substack, this moment in the USA feels pivotal. What kind of world do we want to live in? Fueled by hate? Or love? Could our imperfect democracy die in the next 5 days? Or will we push through our frustration, despondency, conspiracy theories, cancel culture and confusion, and VOTE?
Too much is at stake to play it safe.
I have to do more than my usual GOTV phone calls for this unprecedented election. So I join a dear friend and her tight group of family and friends in Tucson to volunteer for Common Power, 1a Seattle organization that puts progressives to work in swing states. 2They’d done all the prep (thank you! 🙏🏼); all I had to do was show up.
Highlights from the Canvassing Trail
After a kickoff around Common Power’s mission and strategy, we hit the streets in two cars. As a high extrovert, I don’t think of anyone as a ‘stranger.’ Still, real people behind doors: many were wary. We’d hear loud TVs, huge barking dogs, and voices, but in some homes, nobody answered our persistent knocks.
It’s a scary time. We don’t wanna be bothered. We’re sick of politics. Gratefully, many opened their door with a smile. “You’re the third one this week!”
I had to unhook from the Arizona Democrats’ script to find my brave opening ask:
“Hi, I’m Christine, and we’re chatting with neighbors today about voting. Do you plan to vote in this election? Do you have all the information you need?
I did not start with “I’m a Democrat.” Voting is private; many prefer not to say. Our job is to persuade folx to reveal as much as possible, to collect data, and to build a positive sense of community around democracy and voting.
Day 1 / Saturday starts with a bang (cops!)
Challenge: 9 volunteers locate apartments with address numbers designed by drunk people. Drains your brain 🧠 and your phone.
Weird moment: Republican goth voter calls the property manager after his Chihuahua scratches my bare leg. Cops arrive; we’d just finished. Our fellow canvassers schmooze up the ‘cute’ officers and ask how they voted. Job done!
Highlight: A decorated vet sitting on his stoop helps us sort addresses, and says, “I always voted Republican, but it HAS to be Her. I’d join you, but got a bad back…”
Day 2 / Sunday Slowdown (and a call to the Sheriff)
Challenge: 98 degrees. All the lonely people… Many aren’t home.
Weird moment: A woman says, “Why vote? There’s no point. You shouldn’t be bothering people on a Sunday morning. Get off my property. I’m calling the Sheriff.” She follows us out, dialing her phone. We cross the street and send for backup.
Highlight: We accidentally knock on an LGTBQ woman’s back door. “We’re from Chicago. You’re scaring me!” We introduce ourselves. She comes outside to hug us, and later tracks us down for Harris/Walz signs to put up around town. 🙌🏽 Win!
Day 3 / Monday
Challenge: People are away at work. Not many conversations.
Weird moment: We host a hilarious Un-Talent show at our rental house, laughing medicine for tired feet
Highlight: Fellow canvasser and friend Jonah shares the pool/hot tub at his motel to reset body & spirit.
Day 4 / Our Last Day in Tucson
Challenge: Heartbreak. Chocalat, the beloved elder dog of our team’s Mom and Dad, is missing. Half search for Chocalat, half canvass voters in the rural desert.
Truth-telling moment: Mexican-born citizen Jorge says he won’t vote. “Politics? It’s for people with money. Cops come here, you dunno what they gonna do. They put my friend in prison for 13 years. Found out he didn’t do it. They let him go, just said, “Sorry.” We listen, acknowledge his experience, and ask him to vote with his daughter.
Highlight: A beautiful couple from India is so grateful for our help navigating early voting and a complex ballot; they let us use their bathroom!
Takeaways, y’all! Here’s what I learned…
How to work hard at the edges of comfort 🥵 Exhilarating and exhausting!
How to gently break laws 😉 Keep knocking even if we’re told it’s trespassing.
How to work as a team 💪🏽 Value our different skills, approaches, and capacities
How to approach people🙍🏽 Build common ground, no judgment, neutral perspective
The value of deep listening👂🏼 a balm for isolation and loneliness
Make space for all beliefs 🗳️ about government, political systems, and this election.
What would you do to defend Democracy?
You don’t have to knock on doors in 95-degree heat. All you have to do is 1) VOTE. 2) Step outside your comfort zone. Chat with folx. Ask if they’ll vote. Listen without judging. Engage. Share your heart: how issues affect you. And thank them for voting!
🗣️ Your turn: tell us about a Brave Conversation you’ve had.
Ever jumped into a brave new situation like knocking doors? What did you learn?
Ever had the cops called on you? Spill!
Ever listened to a long-winded neighbor you didn’t agree with? Could this help mend our divisions, and create stronger community? Why not?
Thank you for being (Mostly) Brave, and for being You. 💗 Please like this post, comment, or share with a friend worried about the election; more of us can get braver.
Check out my FREE HeartsQuest deck of creative healing tools for brave Mind, Heart, Body, and Soul. More to come!
COMMON POWER mission: “We mobilize volunteers for voters around the country, while investing in the next generation of leaders and building lasting community. Because we believe the most common power we should all have is the power of our vote.”
Washington Post dubbed the Democrat’s huge ground operation the ‘October Surprise.’
Amazing! What a fun-filled day, that was. But trespassing?... 😁
Thank you for sharing, Christine.
Yes - now, more than ever - listen intently and without judgement. Compassionately.
You are a very brave soul. Thank you.