As the 2024 presidential campaign heats up, grassroots volunteers like Elana Hunter are stepping up their efforts to mobilize voters in southwest Philadelphia for Vice President Kamala Harris. On a recent Sunday morning, Hunter, a 52-year-old HR consultant, left her teenage children and ailing mother to canvass her neighborhood. Despite encountering numerous closed doors, she remained undeterred. “My daughter has fewer rights than me. What the hell was I doing sitting on the sidelines?” Hunter remarked, determined to set an example for her children.
Teaming up with Ikethia Daniels, a canvasser from Georgia, Hunter spent hours knocking on doors and distributing campaign literature. Finally, her persistence paid off when a woman answered, expressing her support for Harris but confusion about Pennsylvania’s early voting rules. Hunter took the opportunity to guide her through the voting process, leaving her feeling empowered and more informed.
Hunter’s efforts are part of a broader initiative called Women Wednesdays for Harris, a weekly online meeting that emerged in response to Harris’s candidacy following President Joe Biden’s announcement to step down from the Democratic ticket in July. These calls, organized partly by the grassroots group Indivisible Action, aim to equip individuals with practical tools to engage in political activism, especially for those who may not have much time to spare.
With the election looming, Democrats are relying on dedicated volunteers like Hunter to strengthen their ground game in Pennsylvania, which is viewed as a pivotal state in the upcoming election. While former President Donald Trump has handed control of the Republican National Committee to his daughter-in-law and is partially relying on new, less-tested groups like Elon Musk’s America PAC for support, the Harris campaign is emphasizing traditional grassroots strategies that have historically propelled political campaigns.
During a canvassing kickoff event in Bucks County, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro underscored the importance of grassroots mobilization, stating, “What we have is an army of people going out to knock on doors, make calls, throw up lawn signs, and give permission.” He expressed confidence in the Harris campaign’s ground game, asserting that they have a better strategy and leadership.
Following Shapiro’s remarks, Democratic congressional candidate Ashley Ehasz set off to canvass her district, where she encountered Christine Kahler, a two-time Trump voter who is now undecided. Kahler, who works at an afterschool program, voiced her concerns about the perception of a female president, saying, “I don’t know how other countries are going to deal with us.” However, she also expressed her frustration with Trump, noting that she is “88% sure” she will vote for Harris.
As election day approaches, the ground efforts led by dedicated volunteers and local leaders could prove crucial in swaying undecided voters in Pennsylvania, a state both parties recognize as vital to their electoral strategies.