Mike Hersh PDA Communications Director
Mike’s views are his own, and not necessarily PDA’s official positions

Giving Voters Something To Vote For

Democrats must win the midterms overwhelmingly. The key question isn’t whether we’ve nominated “perfect” candidates. It’s whether or not we give the voters a clear, compelling reason to vote for them. Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) presents a clear, persuasive platform that motivates low propensity voters to support us, rather than stay home on Election Day.

Those of us who follow politics understand that Trump and his allies pose an urgent threat to democracy, civil rights, peace, and the Constitution. That said, reminding the voters about Trump’s abuses is not enough impetus for Democrats to win the midterms decisively. And we must win by wide enough margins to repair the damage.

For one thing, Trump is not on any ballots. His allies are, but many voters, especially lower-propensity voters, don’t care enough about that. They want to know what Democratic candidates will do for them. They want to know if voting for us or voting at all will make their lives more affordable, more secure, and more hopeful. It’s PDA’s job to help answer those questions.

Millions of families are struggling. They see just a few huge corporations banking unprecedented profits. Meanwhile, they’re unable to pay for their rent or mortgage, their groceries, health care, child care, or utilities. They’re trapped between rising inflation and stagnant wages.

They may see Trump deliver subsidies, tax breaks, and special treatment to billionaires, while his policies slash our schools, hospitals, and basic infrastructure. People discuss these concerns over kitchen tables, around water coolers, and at neighborhood barbecues. Still, unless we offer clear and convincing solutions, too many voters will assume nothing will change even if Democrats retake Congress.

What We The People Need

All across the political spectrum, We the People demand an immediate end to forever wars, horrendous human rights violations, and reckless military adventures. PDA shares all of those ideals. We promote diplomacy, cooperation, and a foreign policy that upholds human rights and international law.

PDA’s Healthcare Not Warfare campaign calls for redirecting wasteful war spending to meet the needs of people at home: health care, but also housing, education, infrastructure, climate, and sustainable jobs

From the left to the right and in between, Americans want a government that provides for their basic human needs, rather than pouring billions if not trillions into weaponry and wars of choice. People understand that we can’t keep squandering astronomical sums on death and destruction. Not while more and more of us can’t afford doctors’ visits, the roof over our heads, or food for our children.

Increasingly, the American people are asking hard questions about powerful industries that seize public resources while giving little back to support societies. We realize that Big Tech, Wall Street, defense contractors, big pharma, insurance companies, and fossil-fuel corporations have dictated public policy at the public expense for far too long. PDA demands an end to corporate rule, including the misbegotten myth that corporations are people. They’re not. Common sense tells us that corporations should exist to serve people, not the other way around.

All across the political spectrum, people decry massive data centers that consume enormous amounts of land, water, and electricity. We’re alarmed when oligarchs keep trampling every day families. Big Tech insiders, crypto pyramid schemers, and other politically connected insiders keep cashing in, using their access to gain special favors. PDA demands an end to all of these abuses. Our government must protect people from these abusive extraction scams, not subsidize them.

Sincere Outreach Wins Elections

PDA is working on better outreach. We understand that candidates and campaigns must communicate using clear, direct, and sincere promises. We must show voters that our progressive agenda will lower their cost of living, protect their rights, create and expand opportunity, and make their government work for them. Our messaging will reach people where they are: on their phones, at their doorstep, and within their communities. We’re mobilizing neighbor to neighbor contact, relying on trusted local voices to carry our agenda.

We know that low propensity, low information, and other “swing” voters want to know what we’re offering to make their lives better. Unless we articulate a compelling positive agenda, many won’t understand why it’s in their best interests for the Democrats to retake the House and the Senate. They won’t perceive a reason to vote for us, or vote at all.

We understand that positive advocacy gives voters, especially lower propensity voters, something to vote for. That’s absolutely essential for success. No matter how deeply we feel otherwise, for these voters, it’s not enough to oppose Trump. Those of us who inform ourselves understand the dire threats Trump’s fascistic actions and abusive, reckless, and disastrous policies pose.

Media Malpractice

We’re well aware that Trump’s actions keep killing people. Whether it’s slashing healthcare, waging war, or ICE murdering innocent people in cold blood. Even so, millions of Americans don’t seem to understand that we’re facing an existential crisis.

I don’t blame these voters for their actions or inaction. It’s not their fault. It’s largely because corporate media insist on pretending that protecting and preserving the Constitution and our way of life is a matter of debate, not essential for the survival of our democratic republic.

Media often “sane wash” Trump’s statements and policies. They routinely underreport or totally ignore the dangers posed by Trump’s ongoing assaults on the basic norms underpinning our system and the Constitution itself.

We understand how DOGE’s rampage, Trump’s obscenely greed based budget bill, his terrible tariffs, costly wars of choice, his war on innocent immigrants, and other fiascos directly cause job losses, inflation, deficits, and other harms. All while enriching billionaires and a few big corporations at our expense. Sadly, corporate media refuse to connect these dots and that leaves millions of Americans confused.

We know how Trump is sabotaging critically important sectors of our economy and society. We understand that Trump’s allies put us all under surveillance. His appointees recklessly dismantle protections and our basic human rights, from abortion healthcare to disease control, from disaster relief to safe food and medications. Still,

When the media refuse to do their job, we must step up. Too many voters remain uninformed or misinformed. They’re therefore insufficiently motivated to vote in the midterms. Explaining how Trump’s massive corruption, failures, and outright attacks on the American Way hurts all of us is helpful.

However, this message is simply not enough to ensure the resounding victory we need. Millions of voters need something to vote for. Our positive messaging provides that important information we all must employ to help turn out voters in key states and districts.

A Positive People-First Agenda

We don’t assume that all voters know what is at stake. We know that corporate media refuse to report about Trump’s actions or about the positive alternatives progressives offer. We have to tell the people, but more than that, we have to listen to their concerns. PDA does this work every day. We organize and mobilize grassroots activists, build local chapters, train volunteers, endorse progressive candidates, and promote a progressive agenda.

After today, the nominees will be set. Now we need to make sure voters understand the choice—and know exactly what they have to vote for. We won’t win the midterms through expensive, largely ineffective television ads, denouncing Trump, and so on.

We’ll win by listening and initiating patient, persuasive conversations, mainly in person. Through persistent outreach and organizing that speaks to people’s real lives and fundamental needs. Voters want answers, not finger pointing. As progressives, we must provide sensible solutions to shared challenges.

PDA offers a positive agenda that will help us retake the House and Senate, if we can reach enough voters. We advocate for people-centered policies voters will understand and support, if they know about them. These include:

• Retirement security, affordable child care, and paid family and medical leave.
• Expanded and Improved Medicare for All to guarantee comprehensive health care for all Americans including reproductive rights.
• Safe and secure housing, nutrition, and education for all.
• Shared prosperity including a living wage, strong unions, and protections for workers in the face of globalism and the rise of AI
• Free public college, robust public education, and complete student debt relief.
• Ending price gouging, breaking up monopolies, and promoting innovation.
• Clean land, air, and water, reversing climate change, banning massive data centers and nuclear radiation
• Tax fairness requiring that huge corporations and billionaires pay their fair share.
• Guarantee that government serves all the people—not just massive corporations and the wealthiest elite—by getting money out of politics, promoting fulsome participation, and eliminating insider trading, bribery, and other undue influence.
• A fully functioning democratic society that protects and promotes voting rights, civil rights, equal rights, privacy, and freedom for all.

We helped draft a 21st-century Economic Bill of Rights that would guarantee all of the above, an agenda that puts people first. We have a clear, persuasive message to voters: that government can and will make their lives better, but only if they elect candidates who place the public good over corporate greed.

Join and Support PDA

PDA is organizing every day guided by our core principles: Every person deserves the basic conditions for a decent life, and that means more than survival. requires security, dignity, and a full opportunity to thrive. If you want a country where every person can afford health care, housing, food, education, and a decent future, join us!

• DONATE to PDA to help fund our organizing and outreach to help our endorsed progressive candidates win, and then to enact policies that all people need.
• VOLUNTEER with PDA to make calls to engage with voters, ensuring they have a concrete plan to vote and encourage their friends to vote with them.
• JOIN and build PDA’s local chapters to help us find, endorse, and elect strong progressive candidates and then work with them to advance our people-first agenda.
• ATTEND PDA’s Sunday Progressive Town Hall Zooms, and bring 3 friends with you (me+3).

It’s FED UP Tuesday! 

Labor Day is almost here, and Trump has decimated our federal workforce, driving more than a quarter-million public servants out of their jobs through mass layoffs, forced departures, agency downsizing, and attacks on career civil servants.

The result is a federal government losing experienced people and critical expertise in the agencies Americans depend on for essential services, public safety, health, economic security, and a functioning democracy.

RSVP Here for FED UP Tuesdays.
Starting Tonight and Through October 27

Federal workers are FED UP, and they’re fighting back.

Join us tonight and every Tuesday between now and Election Day as we organize, reach voters, and help elect former federal workers and other candidates ready to defend public service and transform Congress.

RSVP for FED UP Tuesday and sign up for the Tuesdays ahead.

Each Tuesday, we will gather on Zoom and learn and organize together. using organizing tools and a supportive environment to get the vote out. RSVP here.

See you Tonight or at future Fed Up Tuesdays, 

Mike Oles

Chief of Staff

Progressive Democrats of America

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