Study Tour
Study Tour: Campaigning for Democracy
The World Order and Globalization Hub welcomed its twenty-second delegation in September, consisting of nine professionals in politics. The delegation comprised of participants representing Chile, Costa Rica, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, India, Lebanon, Slovakia, and Thailand. The delegates included Chiefs of Staff, Advisors, Party Leaders, Campaign Managers, Communications Experts, and Elected Officials. The eight-day study tour focused on campaigning and elections in the context of democracy, and took place in Washington, D.C., Lansing, Michigan and Detroit, Michigan. Throughout the week, the delegation held meetings with various Campaign Strategists, Think Tanks, Non-Profit Organizations, and Elected Officials. The group also made the acquaintance of the FNF North America network in D.C at one of our regular networking events held on Monday evening and partook in a debate watch-party at a local venue on Tuesday night.
The delegation spent the initial Sunday in D.C. getting to know one another over introduction presentations. The morning started with an introduction presentation to the week’s program. This also included a crash course on the upcoming November election and the Electoral College in the United States, by Christian Koester and Rachel Lee. The presentations from the participants focused on their background, the government structure of their home countries, the political parties they belong to, and major elections and challenges to democracy they are facing back home. The presentations facilitated discussions on best democratic practices, current threats and global extremist trends, as well as pinpointing similar domestic issues faced across continents. The introductory day concluded with a monuments tour of D.C., highlighting historically significant landmarks emblematic of our democracy.
Opinions from Washington, D.C.
The week got underway with meetings in Washington, D.C. The meeting partners in D.C. included: Alpex International, Brunswick Group, Senior Democratic Party Candidates, Progressive Policy Institute (PPI), Convergence Media, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Transparency International, and Plus Communications.
A continuous theme of discussion in D.C. focused on predictions for the outcome of the Presidential debate to be held on that Tuesday night. In addition to debate predictions, many discussions centered on speculations of the result of the upcoming Presidential election in November and the types of voters needed for either outcome. In these speculative conversations, discussions formed around the demographics of voters, the importance of the economy in this election, and social factors at play.
Other notable topics covered included: best campaigning strategies and practices, how to build a successful campaign team, the role of political parties in relation to a candidate’s success, coalition building, and nuances of campaign finance.
Experts in D.C. weighed in on how to best build a team. The best campaign managers are those who can keep a candidate calm and level headed. People who aren’t afraid to voice their opinion to leadership even when their opinion differs from senior members are extremely valuable. In building a team, know what everyone’s strengths are and put them in positions to exercise them. It is important to instill cohesion; furthermore, build up the team and reinforce the value of each person. This makes for a winning combination. As every campaign is different, success is more dependent on how a team is able to approach the different challenges. A stronger more cohesive team stands a better chance.
The patchwork composition of campaign finance regulations in the United States was also subject to discourse in D.C. The prevalence still of dark money in political donations as well as the amount of money needed to operate campaigns in the U.S. was another topic the group covered.
The answer to the question “who do you think will win in November?” changed depending on who you asked in D.C. Many cited the election as “Trump’s to lose”, while others commented on Harris’s slight lead in the polls, leaning toward a Democrat win for the White House.
The Presidential Debate, Issues at Hand, and Key Demographics
On Tuesday evening, the group witnessed the first debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump. The group partook in a watch party held at Shaw’s Tavern. The restaurant was filled with eager onlookers as every screen in the venue aired the debate. The demographic of the patrons was overwhelmingly in support of Kamala Harris, as is reflective of the population in D.C.
Two of the most relevant topics to American voters, immigration and the economy, were well covered in the debate as well as across meetings. Experts opined that on the subjects of immigration and the economy, Republicans would win the favor of more voters. The perception of needing to put American interests first makes a Republican candidate more appealing.
Climate change and the environment were also touched upon during the debate. The issue of rapid climate change and the role American industries play in that, as well as what it means for our communities is an issue more thought out by the Democrats. On this particular issue, Democrats have a greater appeal to voters.
Further discussions in the week explored the campaign tactics from both parties. One aspect of the race experts touched upon was the types of voters the Trump campaign is trying, and successfully, appealing to. An unexpected faction revealed to be a target of the Trump campaign is Black, Male voters, particularly in the South and Urban areas. A tactic often cited as tactless and prejudiced, the campaign aims to relate Trump to these voters on the common grounds of criminal conviction, playing up the endorsement of famous rappers, and stoking rhetoric surrounding men’s rights.
Many in the group raised the question of why these voters and why these tactics? This demographic target for the Republicans stems from the fact that historically Black and Hispanic non-college educated men are more right leaning. This coupled with the fact that historically, White non-college educated people tend to lean more left.
The group also discussed types of voters key to a Harris-Walz victory. Across the board experts relayed the importance of the suburban women’s vote for Kamala Harris. Particularly white suburban women as the key stakeholder for tipping the scales toward a Democrat victory. The subject of women’s healthcare and rights as a main topic for this election is an issue that favors women to vote for Democrats. Younger voters, particularly Gen-Z voters were also cited as critical for a Harris-Walz win. While Democrats maintain a stronghold on the younger vote evidenced by the plethora of online support for the Harris-Walz campaign, the determining factor will ultimately be how many Gen-Z voters actually turnout to vote.
The Role of Social Media and Digital Tactics
Another topic of discussion, particularly between participants was the role of social media in campaigning. The group discussed many subjects therein, such as: how to increase user engagement on various platforms, to what extent does a party or politician need to have a social media presence, how should a politician format their social media presence, and the societal perception of a serious politician making unserious content. Relatability and accessibility of politicians to voters is key. The amount of presence one has online, sometimes regardless of content, is what makes the difference. Additionally, relatability to the masses on platforms like Tik Tok and Instagram is curated through fun and digestible content. Once people notice the lighthearted, silly posts, users are more connected to the account and are more likely to see the political messaging peppered in alongside catchy memes.
Questions were raised about the use of Tik Tok and Instagram, among other social media platforms in regards to reliability of promoting political content. In the same breadth, questions were also raised about the prominence, use of, and ethics of AI in campaigning. The full extent of its prominence and influence are still to be determined, but there is a consensus surrounding the strong potential for its misuse.
The Political Landscape in Michigan
After a packed schedule in D.C., the group headed off to Michigan on Wednesday for a closer look at the political landscape in a Midwestern swing State. The second half of the program took place in Michigan. The delegation visited Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Detroit for a local and diverse set of meeting partners. The group met with partners from the Michigan Information and Research Service (MIRS), the Lansing County Clerk’s Office, the Lansing Mayor’s Office, the Michigan State House of Representatives, the University of Michigan, and the Detroit League of Women Voters.
The zealousness to discuss elections, politics, and the question of Trump v. Harris in D.C., starkly contrasted the mood toward the election in Michigan. There were no yard signs or political billboards to be found. The question of politics in the State has become rather contentious, with no real emphasis on productive discussion, so people avoid the topic. If asked, they will tell you their opinion, but not without hesitancy. Despite being a crucial swing state, any emphasis on politics in the State focused on issues pertaining to Michigan. The primary focus for voters in Michigan is who and what on their local ballot is going to affect them most.
Additionally, Michigan voters keep a stark eye on foreign affairs in the Middle East. Michigan is home to the largest Arab American diaspora community in the country, and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East has a significant influence on these voters.
Best Practices for Local Campaigns
Questions posed by the delegation in Michigan focused on pragmatic approaches and best practices for local, small campaign teams. Discussions centered on issues pertaining to Michigan voters, how the State conducts elections, ways in which the State has promoted voter registration and increased voter turnout, as well as initiatives in place to better educate voters on their ballots.
Notable advice repeated across meeting partners in D.C. and Michigan is the notion that you need to meet people where they are. In order to have productive conversations and to be able to come to a point of understanding, one needs to approach people from the perspective of wanting to understand how they view situations and policies. Not that one has to agree or even like what the other person is saying, but the ability to communicate and discuss contentious topics is key for being able to reach people. One might think that some voters are too far programmed in one political direction to be worth reaching out to; however, change starts with one conversation. Additionally, canvassing is the proven method for making the largest impact for a campaign. Voters feel heard when they are able to engage in open dialogue on issues they’re concerned about. People also feel more connected to a campaign or candidate if they have a personal experience with them.
As evidenced in Michigan, local civic engagement organizations are key for the functioning of government on all levels. The more a population is educated and engaged on policies effecting them, the more accurate the representation of these people will be in all levels of government they vote on.
Addressing Voter Turnout and Extremism
The problem in Michigan, as in many other places in the country, is still voter turnout. Michigan has adopted measures to try and increase voter turnout by making it easier to vote. Policies it has implemented to do so can be exemplified by: automatic voter registration when getting one’s driver’s license, the unrestricted ability to request an absentee ballot and vote by mail, and the ability to be on a permanent absentee ballot list to continually receive all ballots by mail indefinitely. Michigan however requires voters to present ID when voting, but has an alternative option for voters to sign an affidavit in case someone does not have an ID.
Lastly, in Michigan the prominence of far-right extremism is another concern. The presence of this extremism can be found in the Michigan State House, similarly to all other levels of government in the United States. This concerning trend is shared both domestically and abroad.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many factors that go into the upholding of democracy. Educated, civic engagement is one crucial aspect for it to function. The upcoming election in November, while centered on the candidates at the top of the ticket, is just as important to the local level. The question of voter turnout is really the deciding factor for the direction of the election on all fronts. Best practices across the board all start with a conversation from a place of understanding and willingness to meet people where they are. The contrast between D.C. and Michigan in regards to outward political ideology illustrates the frustration felt by most Americans on the current state of political affairs.
The World Order and Globalization Hub would like to thank all of the participants for their keen engagement and for the insightful discussions throughout the program.