This conversation was edited to be more concise and clear.Katelyn Fossett : Let me start by asking you about the two most fascinating congressional races right now. Maria Teresa is my first choice.Maria Teresa Kumar: It's always about Texas, what's happening in Texas, and in this case also what we will see in New Mexico.The 23rd congressional District [along Texas-Mexico border] seems to swing back and forth the most. It was also one of the surprising districts for 2020. We are looking into why Gina Ortiz Jones, a [Democrat] Gina Ortiz Jones, did not win. What happened exactly? Who were the voters who came out to surprise us all? Voto Latino is not the only thing I mean, but Emilys List, and so on. That's it.The other is from New Mexico where [Democratic] Representative Xochitl Small was born. She won the district again by a razor-thin margin in 2018 and it went back into the hands of a Republican Tea Party-type person. Where is the light? It was one person who was affirming gun right and was tuned in to everything in her district. But, it has flipped to someone so extreme on the political spectrum.Stefanie Brown James: The Collective PAC's ultimate goal is to continue making history. We are still looking for many firsts, which is incredible. In 2021 and 2022 we may see historic Black leaders elected to office, something that has never happened before. The spotlight right now is on the Senate, according to me. Currently, there are no Black women in the U.S. Senate. In American history, we have only had two. We are focused on Cheri Beasley becoming the next U.S. Senator from North Carolina, and Congresswoman Val Demings representing Florida in the Senate. These are our top two priorities.Jessica Floyd: We were focusing on the fact that 2010 was such an unrest during the midterm elections for Democrats. How can we change this dynamic? We therefore focused our efforts on specific geographies with marquee Senate races as well as those gubernatorial and House delegation races that, regardless how redistricting works out, will help to determine the House's balance of power. You can find places like Georgia and North Carolina, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin. North Carolina does not have a gubernatorial but has the other two. We know that in 2009 there was a concerted effort that led, in part, to the rise of Tea Party in August 2009 and defining the terms for the debate in those midterms. So that's why we were on the air in three states discussing what Democrats are doing, and the agenda to establish those terms immediately, instead of waiting for next year.Fossett - What kind of focus grouping have you been using in these states to help women?Floyd: We have done extensive quantitative and qualitative research in Wisconsin. Georgia, Arizona, Georgia, and Georgia, focusing on women voters. We see that Biden is very popular. Biden is actually more popular than the national polling. Among women voters, fifty-seven per cent are viewing him favorably in these four states.We also found that 49 percent of the women we surveyed pay less attention to politics now than during the Trump years. We all feel like we want to get out of the chaos created by the Trump administration. When you examine the policy and the implications for us as communicators, those women need to hear that the Biden administration is doing something for them.Kumar: We have done a lot of things as a result of people getting detached. Common Sense Media is an organization that promotes safe media and technology for children and families. We spoke specifically to Arizona and Georgia women about the child tax credit because they don't understand what it is and how it benefits them. We saw many people who didn't even apply for it thinking they wouldn't be eligible because they don't have an IRS filing or something similar. Jessica's comment about communications is very important. Communication is a critical part of Jessica's message.Similar to last year's Voto Latino, we discovered a way to attract new voters using attribution modeling. This is a marketing concept that determines which touchpoints influence a consumer to purchase a product. We have identified voters who are on the fence and persuadable and movable voters and are learning more about them by trying to get them to take the vaccine. We were able to create a ladder for engagement by learning more about persuadable voter through an alternative angle. This is a different way to look at the problem Jess described. It involves meeting the voter right where they are so we can help them understand the effectiveness of vaccines and child tax credits, as well as persuading their vote when it comes time to vote in the midterms.James: Maria Teresa, I am really glad that you brought up persuadable votes. This is because we all know, especially for people of color, we are persuadable voter. We need to be treated as individuals and not as a monolithic group that will always be loyal to the Democratic Party and vote according to party lines. In partnership with Third Way and Latino Victory, we just published a comprehensive report that examines the 2020 elections. We went to 27 states to assess the major races to determine what happened to people-of color voter turnout.One thing we noticed was that both were telling them to vote for Democrats and that this was their duty. This was not a message of persuasion, explaining what they will do for you if elected. A lot of the language around defunding and abolishing police was used to call Democrats or progressives radicals. This talking point worked well for the right to discourage or dissuade voters of color from supporting a progressive agenda or candidates. Those were the things we kept in mind when we formulated our 2022 strategy.Fossett, 2020: There was much discussion about the importance of suburban women in the presidential election. Are you all a bit more concerned about the outcome of the midterms without a figure like Trump who can mobilize suburban women?Floyd: There are two main groups of suburban women that we were considering when we thought about. The first is persuasion audiences convincing people to go back to the Republican Party. I think of the Northern Virginia suburbs who liked Barbara Comstock, but did not like Donald Trump. It is important that they know that Trump's Republican Party remains the party. Whether or not they are as chaotic or as in tune with their policies, they are still out of sync with suburban voters, especially women.Women who vote are the second group. They're more likely to vote Democratic if they vote but they are not guaranteed to. We need to convince them to stay engaged in a post Trump world.Both groups are deeply concerned about the Covid crisis. This includes the health care crisis and the economy. We also know that women, particularly those of color, suffered the most from this economic downturn, as did mothers who had to leave work. One thing that is really on our side, Biden and Democrats are creating policies to address these systemic realities. We just need to communicate that.Jess: What Kumar is saying is exactly right. It is also acknowledging that Democrats talk about infrastructure and human capital when they discuss it. There are Democrats who want to keep childcare on the sidelines, but they don't realize that childcare is the primary reason that nearly 2 million women can't go back to work. They don't have a plan B. They don't have someone to care for their children at home. Do you want the economy to roar? Re-educate women to work. How? Through childcare.We need more women in the office because it wouldn't take us long to understand!Floyd: There are more women in leadership roles within organizations. This is why we had this conversation, and why you see us all designing the programs that are. It matters. It matters for building and maintaining political strength. It is also important for having conversations with voters, with women who will propel us into office as an organization that resonates with them.Fossett: There was much discussion a few years back about the fact that Black women are the backbone to the Democratic Party. Stefanie, I was wondering if the Democratic Party has made any improvements in its support for these candidates, Black female candidates.James: For the past ten years, black women have consistently voted at least 90 percent for Democrats. They are the most active voting demographic for the Democratic Party. So I believe that Black women have been able, in many ways, to steer the candidates and platform of the Democratic Party without feeling like they were receiving any return.Politics isn't politics for political sake. It's about creating policies that will improve our lives. It is to make policies that will improve our lives. This is why it is so important to have a Black woman's voice in Senate. She will bring up issues that no one else will, such as the CROWN Act which prohibits discrimination against hair in the workplace. This has been a major problem for Black women and other women of color.We have made some great, earnest steps. It wasn't always easy. When we established the Collective in 2016, I remember having to have a very personal conversation with the leaders from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. They had their strong, robust red-to-blue list. These were their top priority candidates. There were no Black candidates on the 20-plus person list. This was 2018, however. This was in 2018. It was necessary to meet face-to-face to tell them, "Listen, these folks need your investment early and often." We have seen that Black candidates don't get the same level of financial support from the party or progressive organizations as their white counterparts. They are not introduced to donors who can make a real difference in campaigns.We are starting to see some improvements in this area. Eventually, there were Black people added to the list, and they now serve as members of Congress. Organizations like Emilys List are increasing their investment in Black women running to be elected. There are gatekeepers. Emilys List is one of these organizations. If Emilys List backs you, you can count on donors coming in. However, if Collective PAC supports you, donors will come in. I am grateful that other organizations are taking a greater role in helping these candidates.Fossett - In 2020, there were a lot polling that indicated that Trump's biggest gains in 2020 were with Hispanic women. Maria Teresa and Maria Teresa are my two choices.Kumar: It was their age that caused the most significant changes in Latinos voting for Trump. There was a significant generational gap that we were witnessing. To give an example, six of ten Latinos over 40 voted for Biden, while seven of ten voted for Biden among those aged 34 and under. So you can see that Florida was a major part of the movement among Latinos. You can give credit to the Republicans, especially: Trump continued to speak to Latinos in Florida even after 2016. He never closed his shop. It was a huge communications machine that was occurring constantly that Voto Latino saw back in March 2019. If you had asked me, it was already too late. There was no countermeasure.There is also a lot more disinformation. What is the hidden, stealth disruptor in the midterms? It will be disinformation targeting immigrant community that is not being originated in the United States, but is being generated abroad to immigrant communities or closed networks.Floyd: One last thing. This is why we say that starting early matters. The other side isn't stopping. The industry is prone to thinking that races are only engaging when the TV ads go up. This is not true when you're talking to voters. While we still measure races using old tactical approaches, the other side has an infrastructure that allows them to talk to communities and spread misinformation 24 hours a day. They don't care if tomorrow is an election because they are creating distrust in our institutions. It is incumbent upon us all to combat that misinformation and tell the stories we need to keep voters engaged.Fossett - Can you give an example of something you believe the Democrats do that is kind of out of date in this manner and/or something promising that they are doing in this area?James: One thing I believe the Democrats are doing well in 2020 is Organizing Corps 2020. This project was focused on creating a pipeline of young people, primarily of color, who could organize on the ground and learn the various roles and responsibilities that go with running a campaign. Jaime Harrison, DNC Chair, is very focused on strategic continuous communications, especially with communities and women. They just released a campaign pipeline project, which is a 2.0 version of the training. We often get organizers in the general election, perhaps earlier in the year. You train them for a few month, then it's November. To help them start organizing now and get funding, it is very helpful to have those trainings with people from their communities.The Collective PAC and Jessica Byrd have worked together on the Black Campaign School. This school is focused on training community organizers, candidates, and teaches Black people how to do the work in America.Fossett : Stefanie. I'm interested in the report your group produced with Third Way and Latino Victory. According to that report, one of the problems for Democrats in 2020 was treating communities of color like a monolith. Are you seeing any positive developments from Democrats in this area going into the midtermsJames: It's a bit early to say, I think. Another piece on the funding landscape. Although there is a lot of money available for progressive causes, we need it to flow a bit quicker and a bit sooner. When that happens, I believe we will have greater ability to speak to unengaged voters. All that is to say, a lot more needs to be done now. We will eventually get to that point, I hope, where more attention is given to those voters who have not voted in previous elections.Even though the Black voter turnout was high in 2020, there were places like Cuyahoga County or Cleveland that had actually seen a decline in turnout than the 2016 numbers. You would think that there was no way. This is a county where the voter turnout was so high and reliable. We need to make more investments to ensure that they have the voter turnout that they need.Fossett, So when you say money is flowing but not flowing, it means that the money is going to other organizations that aren't doing the work.James: Democrats and progressives are more likely to wait. You will often see this cash influx in the middle of the midterm elections year. Sometimes it is months before the general election. The Republicans don't think so. It is a continuous flow of resources, trainings, and communications.Kumar: What we found is that most people are exhausted after Donald Trump's five-year tenure. They basically say, "Oh, we had a change in the guard," so to speak. They were fine. But I'm reminding them that we were in the eye and the storm. We have a reprieve but we are still in the eye of storm. And if we don't prepare for 2022, think about the worst-case scenario. The Republicans taking back the House. They have already said that they won't certify fair elections. If we can keep building the infrastructure, talking to voters and not losing them then we have a chance of getting them out in the midterms.Like Stefanie said, Republicans dont turn off. The Republicans never left Florida. We did. I am referring to the large Democratic progressive movement in general.Fossett, This one is for Jessica. Fossett: This one is for Jessica.Floyd: Again, I believe that the economy is issues one, two, three, and four for women. That umbrella is huge and includes things such as childcare, things like child tax credit, $1,400 [stimulus payment]). It is a huge umbrella that includes things like childcare, the child tax credit, and the $1,400 [stimulus payments] all.It is important that we not only let the policies speak for them, but also be advocates for those who made it possible and those who tried to hinder the process. Every single benefit we received during the Biden administration was voted down by every Republican in Congress. We need to tell that story. We need to tell that story.We did a media consumption study, which we did in both the last and this cycle. I know that the current crisis has influenced my media habits. I can't remember when I last saw a TV commercial. We will still be able to air TV ads. They were shown in several states. One study found that 44% of women started to subscribe to lifestyle magazines in the midst of the pandemic. About 70% of those subscribers also read them on their smartphones or e-readers. This is a place where you can meet the women who are receiving their information. Cecile Richards was co-chair of American Bridge when Cecile wrote her first article for Elle magazine. This is because it echoes what you hear today. Let's talk consistently, strategically, and meet voters where they live.Fossett - To end, I'd like to know what your best career advice was. Perhaps it's about how to deal with sexism in politics, or something more general. Stefanie, I'll start with you.James: I find it funny, because I don't consider myself to be a politician. Through the NAACP, I started civil rights organizing. You talk about sexism. It is a male-dominated culture in the Black church as well as the civil rights community. So, even though I am now more involved in politics, I believe it is vital to have both male mentors and female mentors. It was always important for me to be as authentic as possible.It was both sexism as well as ageism for my generation, especially when I came up through the NAACP. At one time, I was the youngest director of the NAACP. It has always been my belief that it is important to be the best. You are able to do your job well, you are open to other perspectives and ideas, as well as learning as much as you can. Mentors are available to you and you can be a mentor for another woman. This is how I have tried to address the sexism, ageism, and racism that I've encountered. I made sure that I was focused on the work and didn't let anyone down.Kumar: I heard so many people tell me that I was wasting my career when I started Voto Latino. Let me be clear: It happened at every step. Voto Latino could serve as a study in ageism, sexualism and colourism. Although I didn't know it at the time I was trying to disrupt voter registration among people who were very comfortable doing it that way. I was also trying to add a new population. In this case, it was youth. I was also using technologies people weren't comfortable with.Ninety percent were forced to close their traditional voter registration methods last March due to the pandemic. This is traditional voter registration, where you knock on doors and stand in front of a Walgreens. Voto Latino was helping to identify the most difficult-to-find people during the pandemic. Nearly 40% of those we registered in the beginning were not on any voter files. We would not have been as successful in overcoming the pandemic without Voto Latino. We helped to register margins of victory for Nevada, Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania. This is a fact. We had 80,000 registered voters when we entered the pandemic, and by the end of the pandemic, there were 617,000 registered voters in eight states.It would have been a great idea if I had listened to everyone else's voice, and not just mine, with my mother cheering me every step of the journey. People can have preconceived ideas about where or how I should fit into a room. My mother gave me the best advice: If someone treats you this way, it is their journey, not yours. So, you should carry that with your.Floyd: These conversations and these questions are what I wish didn't exist. However, I wish I could have an example and not just sit there trying to think about how many times I was asked to take notes in meetings because I was the only female at the table.One of the most valuable pieces of advice I received was to bring your whole self to work. Also, make sure you don't reduce parts of yourself in order to fit into predetermined boxes. In my 20s, I did not see any women discussing having children or getting involved in Democratic politics. Men had children and talked about how it might or may not affect their lives. They weren't being punished for it. When I started out in politics, there wasn't much women who would discuss being a mother to young children. To talk about my children all the time, I try to do so. You can control how you bring yourself to work. You can empower others and model the behavior you want. This is the best way to have an impact.
