Cell Phone Data, Mobile Apps and Paid Media: DNC Touts Voter Targeting Plans

The Democratic National Committee is making new investments in technology to bolster its efforts to reach young voters and voters of color in an increasingly fragmented environment, according to a new memo outline the party’s strategies in the months leading up to the general elections.

Backed by the more than $192 million that Democrats accumulated in the first quarter of this year, Democrats have distributed millions to acquire data and new technologies to specifically target voters in swing states and create a “data infrastructure” that can equally be used by national citizens. and state parties.

The party has invested $2 million this cycle in cell phone data in an attempt to better reach voters in swing states, according to the memo, which promoted the expansion of its cell phone coverage across voter lists in 30% of voters in 2016 to more than 80%. now. Annually, over 2 million dollars were invested in “commercial models and data to better understand voters”.

Democrats point to the Wisconsin Supreme Court race as proof of the benefit of having this data on file, citing the 1.4 million calls and texts Wisconsin Democrats have made to support 2023 candidates, including now-Judge Janet Protasiewicz.

So far, the DNC says it has made 1.2 million calls and sent 5.4 million texts to engage voters and promote events, recruit to organize activities and support voter registration efforts in swing states.

The party plans to invest more in its relational organizing programs to better reach young voters and voters of color ahead of the election. This includes a Wisconsin-based pilot program that has engaged young voters on college campuses in Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee and Eau Claire.

Ahead of President Joe Biden’s campaign event in Racine, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, attendees were trained on how to use a relational organizing app, “REACH,” which the campaign described as a program that helps “voters get involved.” connect with people they already know about the importance of the election.” The bet is that friends and colleagues will be in a better position to convince doubtful people on their social networks to support Biden.

“Over the past few months, REACH has been successfully used by Biden-Harris team supporters and volunteers in the Black community as part of a first-of-its-kind relational organizing program in Milwaukee,” said Garren Randolph, campaign manager for the Wisconsin Democratic Coordinated Campaign. , wrote in a memo this week.

The DNC also touted other investments in its new memo.

While Republicans aim to compete this fall in Minnesota and Virginia, two states that Biden won comfortably in 2020, Democrats are also expanding their investment to target traditionally red states. This election cycle, the party invested more than $4.5 million in its “Red State Fund,” which allocates resources to programs in traditionally Republican states. Kentucky, where the party saw Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear win re-election last year, is among the red states that have seen a big increase in investment from the national party.