Event Recap: Insights From Netroots 2024
The Netroots 2024 conference, held in Baltimore last week, brought together progressive activists, organizers, and thought leaders nationwide to strategize around outreach and messaging for the 2024 election. As the event wrapped up Saturday night, several key takeaways emerged, giving insight into progressive tactics for the upcoming cycle.
Emphasis on Grassroots Mobilization + Storytelling
One of the key themes of Netroots 2024 was the fusion of storytelling and grassroots mobilization, illustrating how narratives and community engagement can drive action. Mikka Kei Macdonald, the Creative Director of Community Change, highlighted that by using relational organizing and hiring activists with deep relationships in their communities, her team was able to build stronger local networks. These local leaders use their lived experiences and connections to drive involvement and conversation in communities as well as across social networks. By centering these voices, teams can reach voters more effectively while building lasting coalitions.
The Crucial Role of Local Politics and Amplifying Voices Beyond the Presidential Spotlight
To further emphasize grassroots voices, speakers also highlighted the adage that all politics is local. So while this election cycle may be marked by polarization at a national level, local politics plays a critical role in shaping communities, amplifying diverse voices, and effecting tangible change at the local level.
During a panel featuring Democratic California Reps. Barbara Lee and Ro Khanna, the topic of how states or cities become a “laboratory” for broader public policy was discussed, with Lee emphasizing the need for Americans to have a sense of agency and ownership over the governance of their neighborhoods and cities and not to get overwhelmed by the condition of our national election rhetoric. She said this messaging was key to reaching a population of disaffected voters who may not be pleased with the choices given to them regarding the presidential race.
Additionally, emphasizing key issues that resonate with voters — such as housing, childcare, and healthcare — helps to link down ballot initiatives to the broader democratic platform. Emphasizing to voters that there is more at stake in November than just the presidency could be the key to getting them to the polls.
The Intersection of Reproductive Rights, Economic Opportunity, and Voter Mobilization
While politics are local, they are also personal. According to HIT Strategies, 7 in 10 women of color say abortion is an extremely or very important voting issue, and with reproductive rights on the ballot across the country, progressive activists and politicians are emphasizing how family planning can affect a person across other aspects of their life. As Americans grapple with the challenges of accessing quality childcare, affordable healthcare, and stable housing, tying reproductive rights to economic issues can help bring people to action. In 2024, progressive campaigns across the country aim to energize voters by drawing connections between these issues and the importance of electoral participation.
Overall, the most important takeaways show that progressives have a renewed focus on local politics, underscored by the fusion of storytelling and grassroots mobilization to create action. By weaving together traditional and digital platforms along with emphasizing the intersectionality of reproductive rights and economic justice, progressive campaigns can engage a wider spectrum of voters and win in November.
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McKinley Williamson is the Strategic Partnership Director, Politics + Public Affairs at Optimum Media. She led creative strategy for political partnerships at BuzzFeed during the 2016 election cycle and has worked with DoSomething, The Economist, and Quartz to develop and execute strategic messaging and campaigns across public affairs and politics.