2020 GOALS

The Hometown Project provides a critical benefit to local candidates, grassroots partners, and the Hometown Energizers who can impact local elections that are often decided by just a few hundred votes. In 2020, The Hometown Project expands our electoral work to more hometowns across the country. The vision is to replicate the successful work in Virginia in the key swing states of Michigan and Ohio to recruit 10 Energizers and support over 25 local candidates in each state. This cost-effective strategy will reach millions of voters within competitive states and flippable districts.  We will build upon and expand our social media and online content creation and distribution. These familiar faces motivate people to vote up and down the ballot and will create a reverse coattail effect in the crucial 2020 elections.

The Hometown Project will also play a critical role in messaging around voting access and voting rights in the current climate. There is a clear need to encourage people to vote early and vote from home via absentee ballot in respective states— and it is crucial to educate voters that the state and local leaders on the ballot are the leaders that can help their community safely through the pandemic.

In 2020 The Hometown Project plans to deploy our growing community of influencers across multiple states to educate people about the importance of voting early and voting down ballot. If voters lack information about voting early, then massive lines may form on election day at the polls. Voter suppression efforts have succeeded in some states at reducing the number of in-person, same-day polling locations, and combined with social distancing and fear of the virus could dampen turnout.

Our influencers have a combined social media following of over 90 million people across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and additional 2020 influencers like Jon Hamm (MO), Maggie Rogers (ME) and Ethan Hawke (TX) demonstrate the growing interest in our approach and our capacity to have a substantial impact this year.

2020 MAP

2020 Team

Executive Director: Erin Frederick

Program Director: Amy DiPrima Forste

Digital Distribution: Colin Delany

Production Coordinator: Kirsten Garrison

Head Writer: Tracey Scott Wilson

Script Coordinator and Writer: Grace Critchfield

Illustrator: Michael Arthur

Graphic Designer: Ben Tostado

Editors: Tim Nackashi, Justin Cannon, Fidel Ruiz-Healy, Shannon Meneses, Tyler Walker, Patrick O’Grady

Writers & Creative Collaborators: Alexis Buryk, Peter Ackerman, Brooke Berman, Autumn Dornfeld, Azie Dungey, Chris Eigeman, Trey Ellis, Paul Feig, Shannon Frederick Meneses, Joanna Hershon, Stephen Kay, Jenna Krasowski, Kate Moira Ryan, Jess Morales Rocketto, Kashi Nikore, Pippin Parker, Piper Perabo, Jennifer Rau, Celine Robinson, Joshunda Sanders, Steven Shainberg, Jessica Sharzer, Liz Tuccillo, David Wain, Beau Willimon, Pauline Zalkin

Interns: Andrew Abramson, Sydney Oshuna