A Note of Gratitude

Musings at the end of my year in Arizona

The election in Arizona will “officially” be over on November 30. That’s when the voting results are certified.

Those certified votes will show that Arizona has taken a step forward, but has yet to cross the finish line in turning blue. The state elected President Biden and Vice President Harris, our nation’s first woman and person of color, by a razor thin 10,457 votes (marking a .3 percent margin of victory). For the first time since 1953, it also elected its second Democratic Senator Kelly—doing so by eight times the Presidential margin of victory. Statewide, Arizona also voted for Anna Tovar, the second Democratic seat on its influential Corporation Commission, and passed both citizens’ initiatives on the ballot: Prop 207 (legalizing recreational marijuana) and Prop 208 (securing guaranteed funding for public schools).

In the state legislature, Arizona added two new Democratic lawmakers: Christine Marsh (SD 28) and Judy Schwiebert (LD 20), but the lofty aspirations to win five seats across the Senate and House to flip control of the chambers were not met, including in Northern Arizona’s Legislative District 6 for Felicia French.

As I wrap up and reflect on my time in Sedona, I want to highlight what I have to be grateful for today—November 26, the day Americans celebrate as Thanksgiving.

First, I’m thankful for the results of this campaign. In looking back, there are important lessons to be learned, but absolutely no regrets. Neither Biden nor Kelly (nor even prop 208) won in this 9+ point majority Republican district.

Despite that, Felicia increased her support by 20 percent over 2018 and earned more votes than any other Democratic candidate in the history of the district—both in the primary and in the general election. The campaign also surpassed its fundraising budget by threefold and exceeded all of its volunteer recruitment requirements. As a field team, we had a smart, talented, and incredibly committed crew of organizers who executed flawlessly. Every single campaign field goal set was met…AND exceeded: 201,339 calls attempted (158%), 18,900 voters identified (138%) and 6,910 supporters secured (117%).

But, the campaign didn’t just hit its targets, it took a “leave no voter stone unturned” approach. Voters identified as an undecided during their initial canvass, were re-called as part of a special Deep Couch Canvassing Lab. Those calls were made directly by Felicia, effectively optimizing her time and outreach impact, and a special group of couch canvassers who met weekly to share tactics and leverage best practices. That group included the LD 6 field organizers and volunteers Ann Merrill, Diane Lenz, Charlie Varon, Cat Ransom, Linda Scott, Jeffrey Brown, and Diane Lenz, who were screened and invited for their strong canvassing capabilities.

With an eye to key 2019 race results in Virginia, in addition to reaching out to the assigned, target universe of ‘persuasion’ voters, the campaign also canvassed low turnout voters that were previously registered (but inactive for 2020). Voters were contacted by door knocks (pre-COVID-19), texts, phone calls, handwritten letters, and postcards, as well as through paid social media, mailers, billboards, newspaper, radio, and TV (a taco truck was even sent to NAU to incentive voting!). When supporters were reached, vote-tripling was also incorporated. Indeed, we left it all on the field and I’m forever indebted to the tireless work and thoughtful insights of the LD 6 field team: Jay Ruby, James Gold, Anna Hull, Collin Gunn, and Katherine Yelle.

Second, in addition to field team members, I’m especially thankful to the volunteers with whom I had the privilege of working to build an incredible, record-breaking campaign. I met so many people here, as in my home in San Francisco, and across the country, who fully committed themselves to the fight for our values. They dedicated their time, money, and emotional fortitude to what was truly the most important election of our lives.

By no means exhaustive, this list includes some of the most tireless Arizona leaders who organized their communities in support of Democratic candidates up and down the ballot: Cathy Rutherford (Democrats of the Red Rocks), Ellen Ferreira (After the March), Toby Friedman (Indivisible Sedona), Lynette Brouwer (Gila County Democrats), Ann Heitland and Shannah Redmond (Coconino County Democrats), and Kevin Gibson (Navajo County Democrats). In addition, there were the volunteers who stood out through their dedication to Felicia’s race, spending month after month, calling voters in this bright red, rural district: Kelli Nakamura from Torrance, CA, a college student who cut her teeth volunteering for a campaign for the first time, but then went on to make over 3,500 calls; Madeleine O’Callaghan, the mother hen who tirelessly recruited and shepherded her volunteer “chicks,” all while she herself made the most calls of anyone in Sedona; Robert Morris, a Maryvale, UT volunteer who found our race through Swing Left and became a backbone for the outreach to the most conservative part of LD 6, Navajo County; Margaret O’Connery, who never turned down a project, and jumped feet first into her role of coordinating DORR outreach efforts and volunteers; Tara Schuster, an author, who relocated from Los Angeles to Flagstaff, registered as an AZ voter, and then single-handedly lead the ballot curing efforts for Coconino and Yavapai County before the election; and last, but by no means least—Roni Jelm, who opened her home and welcomed me as a house mate!

I’m indebted to each and every one of these people and many, many more including the army of volunteers at Swing Left, East Bay Activist Alliance, Democracy Action, and Sister District Project. And of course, I couldn’t end my list of people without recognizing my beloved soulmate and Face the Music superhero, Peter, who supported and cheered me on throughout our long year apart.

Third and last for today, I’m thankful for the committed support of the ADLCC’s Liz Luna and Charlie Fisher, and for the opportunity I had to be part of Felicia’s core Team French. It was truly an honor to work alongside Anna French, Bob Meyer, and Sharon Edgar to support such an amazing candidate. Most of all, it was a privilege to fight for a patriot, a retired Colonel who has given 32 years of her life to serving our country. As a nurse, MedEvac helicopter pilot, equal opportunity officer, medical commander, and sustainability scientist, she exemplifies public service and truly embodies the values on which she campaigned, even volunteering for a month as a nurse in Tuba City, putting herself at high risk to support members of the Navajo Nation, who have long suffered directly at the hands of our government.

This district could have had no better representation than Felicia. And no one would be more committed to fighting for every child’s right to a good public education, each family’s access to affordable healthcare, and the protection of Arizona’s public lands and water.

So today, I say thank you for this opportunity to learn and be part of the good fight...