2022 Nevada Relational Program
Successfully Scaling for Victory
262,000 Conversations in 47 Days
127,000 People Contacted
2,600 Community Mobilizers
In the 2022 cycle, we set out to test the limits of paid relational organizing in Nevada. Previous volunteer and paid programs had proven they could surpass 100,000 contacts in larger states like Minnesota and Georgia (populations 5–10 million). But Nevada, where Senator Catherine Cortez Masto secured reelection with just 493,000 votes, presented a different challenge: how far could we scale in a smaller state where every vote mattered?
We found the answer—very far, very fast. Over six weeks, 2,600 Community Mobilizers generated 262,000 conversations and reached more than 127,000 Nevadans. This proved that relational organizing at scale is not only possible but decisive.
Why It Matters
In 2016 and 2020, nine states were decided by 57,000 votes or fewer. Our theory was simple: a well-run paid relational program could deliver enough net votes to cover these razor-thin margins in 2024. Yet, unlike traditional tactics—mail, TV, phones—which are consistently well-funded, relational programs remain under-resourced. That creates a high-leverage opportunity for investment.
Partnerships and Training Innovations
To test this model, we partnered with AFSCME, Black Lives Matter PAC, End Citizens United, One Fair Wage, NextGen, AFT, Conservation Voters, NSEA, and America Votes. One breakthrough came from introducing breakout rooms into Zoom trainings—this helped Community Mobilizers expand their lists and drive more conversations. On the day before Election Day alone, they logged an astonishing 80,000 conversations.
Calls to Action and Results
Each Mobilizer was tasked with building a 75-person contact list and conducting outreach through four Calls to Action, checking whether contacts were:
Registered to vote
Planning to vote early
Interested in becoming a Vote Booster
By Election Day, we reached 127,000 unique people. From the 42,000 we matched in VAN, the data was clear:
52% were modeled progressives (VCI score 70+)
80% had low or unknown vote propensity scores
Contacts were diverse across race, age, gender, and geography
In short, we reached high-opportunity voters others were missing—proving that relational organizing at scale can shift outcomes in tight races.
