The 2021 Election Wrap-Up and Great Democratic Debrief

There’s a saying that goes, “If you don’t learn from the past, you are doomed to repeat it.” Elections are no different. Yet, after Election Day we rush to the next project or campaign, and in doing so, risk not learning from past mistakes or accomplishments. 

At NDTC, we want to take a moment and reflect on the successes and failures of the last election cycle. In November 2021, we took home 231 wins including 153 general election wins and 139 primary election wins out of more than 600 total candidates on the ballot. Learners ran for city council, school board, municipal council, mayor, and state representative, among others, across 37 states! Out of our prioritized leaders group, 59% of winners are Women, while 52% of winners are POC.

Click here to see our list of wins! 

Following the success of last year, NDTC hosts the Great Democratic Debrief (GDD). By bringing together candidates, campaign staff, volunteers, and local leaders from around the country, Dems exchange insights and debrief their campaigns. 

We hosted two collaborative events where folks discussed their victories and challenges throughout this last election. This type of facilitated discussion only strengthens our chances of victory as we look toward 2022.

Here are our main takeaways from the 2021 Great Democratic Debrief:

Democrats Left Their Mark Across America

While the focus has been mostly national headlines in New Jersey and Virginia, Democratic candidates won throughout the country. And most of these victories came in down-ballot races. 

Here are just a few 2021 winners in municipal and local elections we’d like to highlight:

1. Anthony Harris ran for Alderman At-Large of Manchester, New Hampshire. While running, Harris detailed his experiences with poverty, sexual abuse, and the criminal justice system. As the Co-Founder of Felon to Freeman and the first Decarceration Organizer for the American Friends Service Committee’s New Hampshire program, his history and current mission strengthened his candidacy. By running, Anthony built the infrastructure for individuals with stories that parallel his own to show up in their communities.
2. Destiny Hallenbeck was elected to the Chatham, New York Town Board at 21 years old. She ran on a host of issues, including the lack of affordable housing in Chatham, improving rural broadband, and combating poverty and food insecurity. Destiny took 19 courses in the online academy and attended one virtual-live-training, all while continuing her studies as a senior at Union College. 
3. At 22, Madison Gonzalez became the first Hispanic person to be elected to the Windsor, Connecticut Board of Education. She ran on a message of inclusivity and access to a quality education for all students in Windsor. Madison got her start taking the course: ‘So You Think You Want to Run’.
   
4. Judy Pineda Neufeld won her seat on the Somerville, Massachusetts City Council this most recent election. Judy ran on an equitable Covid-19 recovery plan, as well as accessible and affordable housing issues. She also ran to increase public transit to make Somerville a more livable city. And as an NDTC Trainer, Judy not only empowered others to run, but trained them on how to win campaigns.

When Voters Show Up, Democrats Win

What we do know is that there’s no such thing as a true “off-year.” However, 2021 was an off-year election in that there were no national elections. Regardless, we know that when voters show up, especially in local elections, we win. This was a common theme throughout the Great Democratic Debrief.

As we move forward, we, as Democrats, need to energize our base beyond top-of-the-ticket candidates. We must also focus our energy, resources, and votes on down-ballot races, because voter turnout affects Democrats’ overall success.

Check out NDTC’s course, “GOTV,” to learn everything your campaign needs to know to get Democrats in your community to the polls.

Digital Is Essential For Victory 

Due to the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic, GOTV efforts and in-person fundraising events proved to be difficult. Therefore, one-on-one interactions with supporters and chances to connect with voters in candidates’ communities were limited.

This made a strong digital presence essential to any candidate’s success in 2021. Because COVID is still affecting campaigns, the ability to remain visible on people’s screens remains very important.

Looking Ahead

Key findings from the 2021 Great Democratic Debrief are still revealing themselves. As we move forward in the coming year, our survey data and anecdotal evidence will help guide us in planning learner content, coordinating Virtual Live Training events (VLTs), and developing new curricula. 

As a training organization, we welcome feedback and suggestions for programming or trainings to help everyone see success in their races and for their communities. Please email us at [email protected] to share your thoughts for future resources.

Stay tuned for NDTC’s programming as we look to power Democratic victories up and down the ballot in 2022. We are committed to sharing free resources for anyone who wants to win in Democratic politics, from candidates to staff and local leaders.

Stay Tuned

November 2021 Winners

General Election

November 2021 Winners

Primary Election