$500k in Candidate Fundraising

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 30, 2020

Sister District Hits Critical Fundraising Milestone, Raising Over $500k For Their 2020 Candidates

Democratic grassroots organization’s digital organizing efforts during COVID-19 have led to more than doubling their amounts at this time just two years ago 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA– Earlier today, the Sister District Project announced that they have hit a critical milestone this year during their strongest fundraising month in the history of the organization, raising over half a million in small dollar donations to support their 2020 candidates, with an average donation of $26. By the end of the second quarter in 2018, the organization raised slightly under the $200,000 mark—meaning that this year, Sister District has more than doubled its fundraising capacity as they approach election day.

Thanks to a nationwide 45,000+ volunteer network, Sister District has been combining fundraising and online organizing tactics with in-person canvassing since the organization was founded in 2016. During COVID-19, they ceased all in-person events and moved all their activities online to support their 30 candidates in nine battleground states. They have found particularly large success in their “virtual trivia night” fundraisers, selling out to participants along with raising thousands of small-donation dollars.

“With the groundswell of support for the Black Lives Matter movement along with the impact of COVID-19, it’s now becoming clear to people across the nation how much of an impact local government has on crucial issues—like healthcare, the economy, and civil rights—within our communities,” said Rita Bosworth, the Executive Director of the Sister District Project. “The American people are waking up and understanding why local races are instrumental to putting our country on the path to progress.” She notes that “hitting $500,000 in small dollar donations for down-ballot races is an incredible feat, and is a clear indication that Democrats across the country are fed up with Republicans who have exploited COVID-19 for selfish political gain. Now more than ever, we need elected officials that put our safety and wellbeing first.”

Sister District has become a powerhouse behind flipping legislative seats blue, and is using momentum from previous races to build progressive power across the country in 2020.  Last year, they played a pivotal role in delivering a Democratic trifecta to Virginia for the first time in a quarter of a decade, with eight of their candidates winning their races as well as all of their alumni candidates getting re-elected to their positions. In the 2018 midterms, they secured 13 state legislative seats for Democrats in swing states including Arizona, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Michigan.

Sister District recently announced their second wave of endorsed candidates, bringing their total to 30 candidates they’re supporting during the 2020 election cycle.

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The Sister District Project works to turn states blue by winning state legislative elections. We “sister” volunteers from deep blue districts with carefully targeted races in swing districts, where flipping control of the state legislature will help end partisan gerrymandering and advance progressive policy.

Since launching in the wake of the 2016 elections, the Sister District Project has grown to over 45,000 volunteers across the country. Our volunteers have raised over $2.15 million in small-dollar donations directly to candidates and reached out to over 2 million voters via phones, doors, postcards, and texts.