Our Path Forward (Confidential).pdf261.8KB
- Early 24 activity: effectively fought to a draw with semi-open. In addition, with partners, we helped defeat RCV repeal or ban bills in Utah, Virginia, and Georgia.
- 8 States & DC, the field: grassroots support in Idaho (an all volunteer driven signature gathering campaign), philanthropic leadership in Arizona (dozens of major donors contributing over $10M), and grass tops engagement in Colorado (endorsements by Governor Polis, Senator Hickenlooper, and the mayors of the four largest cities).
- Self-attribution error: Here’s what is also true: In retrospect, the nuances of an early victory in Alaska in 2020 (when reform was combined with a popular dark money provision on the ballot) and a narrow victory in Nevada in 2022 (with no paid opposition for “round one”) contributed to a misreading of where the electorate was on our issue and the potency of real opposition.
- Principles vs. policies is a helpful frame: Despite polling that shows a large majority of voters agree with our reform principles (e.g., more choice, majority winners, etc.), there is a stark lack of conviction in and organic support for our policies –– which leaves initiatives highly vulnerable to the partisan opposition they inherently attract. Opponents spent relatively small sums of money very late in the cycle to sow enough doubt that led most voters to default to “No” on their ballots.
- Post victory implementation challenges. Thinking through the full spectrum of “success”
- What are the s
