Chop Wood, Carry Ohio 5/24 🚜

Hi, all.

So I think I’ve written you about this before, but I’m doing it again because it’s a REALLY important under-the-radar effort that could help us win in Ohio.

The TLDR is that I joined a group called Blue Ohio as a $10/month sponsor. I went to their first “brown bag” meeting last Friday, and it was f—ing great. I learned a lot; I also got a renewed belief in how POSSIBLE it is to flip this Senator’s seat blue. I can’t afford to give more money—I’m a full-time activist—but if I had more to give I would.

So I’m coming to you. Maybe you’re someone who signed up for this list but has yet to take a crack at any of the volunteer opportunities on the Master Doc. Maybe you just got a raise. Maybe you’ve been wanting to give money somewhere but weren’t sure where.

If any of that is true, I am asking you to sign up as a monthly donor—of any amount!— to Blue Ohio. Why?

Because it’s a smart group. They’re basically a grassroots community that’s crowdfunding support for Ohio’s Democratic state legislative nominees. They’ve got data that proves that running and funding down-ballot candidates boosts both turnout and vote share for the top of the ticket.

Their idea is simple. To make sure all of the nominees (even those in red, rural areas) have resources to fight fiercely in every district, they use a “bathtub” method of funding. After the primary, they distribute community funds until all the nominees have at least $1,000. Then they raise the “water level” to $2,000 … then $3,000 and so on and so on until all of the Blue Ohio community funds are exhausted. 

By making sure every district has some support, they’ll be boosting turnout in the short term, but also building a bench, rebuilding infrastructure, and pushing back against the right-wing narratives that have taken hold in places we’ve neglected for too long.

It’s a great concept. It’s a working concept.

They’re already at over 400 “members,” but they want to at least double that. I’m hoping I can help by asking you.

This is where you can sign up to be a monthly small-dollar donor until November. Will you if you can?

And as always, if you can’t give please consider volunteering! The Master Doc has so many opportunities!

Thanks and talk soon,

Jess