You think we’ve got till November 8 (Election Day) to persuade voters?

In TWENTY-TWO DAYS, County Clerks in New Jersey are going to start mailing ballots out to voters who have requested them.

(If you haven’t requested
yours yet, it’s not too late!
Click here to get started.)

And once voters have their ballots, they are going to start VOTING!

You know what that means. We have less than four weeks to reach them!

to make sure voters know that making healthcare affordable for families and seniors depends on keeping control of the House and Senate.

to convince them that voting rights are at risk (as President Biden emphasized in his “Soul of the Nation” speech last night) if we lose to conservative extremists.

to remind them that the existence of the January 6 Commission depends on maintaining our majority in the House.

to make sure they know that a Republican-controlled House and Senate will pass a nationwide abortion ban so fast it’ll make your head spin.

YOU KNOW THE DEAL.

Midterm elections generally have terrible turnout. And while today’s tumultuous political environment means that anything — anything! — can happen, turnout will always be key. If THEY motivate their supporters while WE shrug and let our supporters sit this one out, THEY WILL WIN. Even here in Blue Jersey.

We know the best ways to encourage participation by voters who share our values:

#1:

#2:

These person-to-person encounters are proven to be the most effective ways of getting voters OFF THEIR BUTTS — and out to the mailbox or drop box or Board of Elections office with their VBM ballot, or to their early voting site, or to the polls on Election Day.

We know it’s tempting to say, “Oh, someone else will canvass. Someone else will phone bank. I’m too busy. I’m too tired.” But you know what? Everybody is saying that. As a result, volunteers are light on the ground these days, and campaigns really need your support. That means it’s up to each of us to make the choice to show up. That means …

Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s campaign in CD11 has NO END of worthwhile events you can sign up for, every day of the week. (Some you can even do from the comfort of your own home!) Scroll down to the Events & Volunteer Opportunities section of this newsletter to see lots of them, or visit the Weekly Volunteer Opps page of our website anytime.

Even better, NJ 11th for Change is organizing two fun-filled canvass launch parties for Mikie in September (think coffee klatsches, think happy hours, think FUN!), another two in October, and still more in November. We’ll be focusing on a handful of target towns that really need

Watch for invitations here, on our website, and on social media soon.

We are also currently considering out-of-district endorsements in CD7 (Tom Malinowski vs. Tom Kean) and in CD3 (Andy Kim vs. Bob Healey). If NJ 11th for Change volunteers and donors vote to endorse in those districts, we may soon be adding volunteer opportunities for you to help in those races, as well!

(NOTE: if you have volunteered or donated in the past year, look for an email from [email protected] with details on how to cast your votes. If you believe you should have received an endorsement email but can’t find it, please email us at that address and we will investigate.)

We know what we need to do.

Our great NJ 11th for Change volunteers are full of energy and passion — the same passion expressed in President Biden’s speech last night, when he said

"While the threat to American democracy is real, I want to say as clearly as we can: We are not powerless in the face of these threats. We are not bystanders in this ongoing attack on democracy….

"There are far more Americans, from every background and belief, who reject extreme MAGA ideology than those who accept it. It is within our power. Folks, it's in our hands, yours and mine, to stop the assault on American democracy….

"We have to defend it. Protect it. Stand up for it. Each and every one of us. That's why tonight I'm asking our nation to come together and unite behind the single purpose of defending our democracy regardless of your ideology….

"As your president, I will defend our democracy with every fiber of my being. And I'm asking everyone to join.”

Let’s harness that energy, as a group and as individuals. Because when we work together, you know what we do:

We can’t wait to see you out in the field, working to make a positive difference!

EVENTS &
VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: Our new Volunteer Opportunities webpage will always be updated with the current week’s roster of actions you can take to support your favorite candidates. Please bookmark it, and check it regularly!

"TEAM MIKIE" OPPORTUNITIES:

(Click the links for details, and to register)

Ballot drop is right around the corner! We have only 22 days until VBM ballots are mailed out in CD11. Help Team Mikie talk to as many people as possible before September 24!

THIS WEEKEND & WEEK AHEAD!

• Thursday, September 8 at 3:00 pm —
  Livingston Canvass Launch
  
  
• Saturday, September 10 at 10:00 am —
  Millburn Canvass Launch
  
  
• Saturday, September 10 at 10:00 am —
  Parsippany Canvass Launch
  
  
• Monday, September 12 at 5:30 pm —
  Bloomfield Canvass Launch
  

EVERY WEEK!

• EVERY Monday at 3:00-5:00 pm —
  Women for Mikie Virtual Phonebank
  
  
• EVERY Tuesday at 5:00 pm —
  In Person Auto Dialer Phonebank
  at campaign headquarters in West Caldwell
  
  
• EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. —
  Virtual phone banks at a variety of times!
  
  
• EVERY. WEEK. & WEEKEND.—
  Canvassing events to send Mikie back to DC this fall!
  

NJ 11th FOR CHANGE OPPORTUNITIES:

• Tabling at Events: Is your town planning any civic events, festivals, street fairs, or farmers markets? Let us know, so we can help your community get ready to vote! There's nothing more satisfying than setting up shop at a local community event and encouraging constituents to vote or learn about their candidates. If you're interested, please email Mara! We're looking for volunteers to:
  
  
  • tell us about events in their towns and counties, and
  • come on out and staff the tables!

• Vote-By-Mail Letter Campaign: Not all NJ voters know they have to actively request a mail-in ballot this year. That’s where YOU can help! We’ll provide the official VBM request forms and a list of names and addresses; you provide postage, post-its, and envelopes. Write a quick personal note on the post-it encouraging the recipient to vote by mail, stick it to the request form, stuff it in the envelope, and send it off! We have a tight list of in-district voters who need this little push to significantly increase their turnout rates. Let’s make it easy for them to do the right thing!
  
  Interested in helping? Join the team by emailing NJ 11 Field Director Stacey Abenstein and putting “VBM CAMPAIGN” in the subject line. (Can't write but want to donate stamps or stamp-money? Email Stacey!)
  
  
  

• Working America Letter-Writing Campaign: You know that NJ 11th for Change usually focuses close to home — no national campaigns that make us roam far afield. HOWEVER! We do make one exception! Our volunteers have been participating in Working America's national letter campaign for several years, with terrific success! Working America (the activism branch of AFL-CIO) is a data-driven organization with its finger on the pulse of their electorate, and they have a meticulously field-tested, proven strategy for swinging votes in tight races. They know exactly which voters to touch, and exactly what issues and messages will do the job.
  
  How does it work? You will be sent a document with the text of a carefully crafted letter, focused on one of three core issues that (research shows!) turns red voters blue. You'll also get a list of addresses. Type a few additional personal sentences into the document, print it out, sign it by hand, stuff it in an envelope and mail it off with a handwritten address. Print, sign, and stuff till you’ve completed your list! (You’ll need to provide stationery and stamps.) Our experienced volunteers say that it’s quicker and easier than writing postcards … and the vote-swing rate is the envy of grassroots groups from coast to coast!
  
  Interested in helping? Get on the list by emailing NJ 11’s Working America expert, Jim Price, and putting “WORKING AMERICA” in the subject line. (Can't write but want to donate stamps or stamp-money? Email Jim!)
  
  

• COMING SOON: NJ 11th for Change Postcarding: Interested in joining our crack team of postcarders? Email NJ 11 Field Director Stacey Abenstein and put “NJ11 POSTCARDS” in the subject line. We'll be in touch in about a month, as soon as we're ready to launch the postcarding portion of our 2022 efforts! (Can't write but want to donate stamps or stamp-money? Email Stacey!)
  
  
  

• Operation Diggin’ Up the Dirt: Mikie’s opponent, Paul DeGroot, is a hard-right Trumper. He is also keeping very quiet in the public sphere about his positions; suspiciously quiet, one might say. We’re building a team to gather intel about his positions — and anything else that voters need to know.
  To get involved, contact NJ 11th for Change Research Director Patricia Doherty, and put “DEGROOT RESEARCH” in the subject line.

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NJ 11^th for Change is a 501(c)(4) unaffiliated organization dedicated to advocating for all people of New Jersey’s 11^th Congressional District. We foster an engaged and informed community with the power to shape our political representation so that it is transparent, responsive and accountable—and so that it reflects the values of fairness, compassion, inclusivity and a decent quality of life.