Illinois Democrats volunteer in swing states
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Thousands of Illinois Democrats are volunteering in swing states to influence November races.
Why it matters: The presidential race between former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is extremely close and could be determined by voters in nearby states like Wisconsin and Michigan, where local Democrats are traveling to campaign.
Between the lines: With Illinois being a solid blue state, the programs offer an outlet for Democrats who want to have an impact.
What they're saying: "I love canvassing in Kenosha," Chicago volunteer Regan Burke tells Axios. "People are so neighborly and there's a wide variety of voters. One tattooed young woman said she was voting for Kamala but not (Senator) Tammy Baldwin 'cause she wants to ban TikTok.
- "Some voters who say they're voting Dem don't know who Kamala Harris is! People offer you lawn chairs to rest, water, and [a place to] use the bathroom."
The other side: Axios reached out twice to the Illinois Republican Party for information on similar programs but got no response.
Here are a few of the programs local Democrats are participating in:
Operation Swing State mobilizes volunteers to knock on doors, make phone calls, write postcards, and support Democratic candidates in Wisconsin and Michigan.
- This Saturday volunteers are scheduled to leave from Edgewater, Evanston, Rogers Park, Naperville and Arlington Heights.
Q Force Midwest Action Groups organizes members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies to work on pivotal races and is hosting a South and West Side outreach event Sept. 21 at Bronzeville Winery.
- Q Force officials say voter turnout rose by 5% in areas of Southwest Michigan where they sent 100 volunteers in 2020. This year, with 1,200 volunteers, they're expanding to Wisconsin.
- "It is exciting to see volunteers from every aspect of our diverse community excited to get out and DO something rather than wring their hands," Q Force co-chair Greg O'Neill tells Axios.
Organize or Else partners with the "Pod Save America" podcast to provide volunteers with three high-impact things they can do each week to influence the election.
- Tens of thousands of volunteers across the nation compete on Team West or Team East (Chicago is east) to do outreach projects.
Swing Blue Alliance works with the AFL-CIO's Working America to organize volunteers to write personalized letters to conservative to moderate workers in Pennsylvania.
- This year's topic is health care.