In a room where computers, notebooks, professions of faith and cups of coffee invade the tables, about twenty women lend themselves to a curious exercise. Divided into pairs, they have three minutes flat for a successful door-to-door operation. The roles are assigned – one embodies the candidate, the other a grumpy voter who hates politics but can be convinced – and the simulation begins. In a collective hubbub, each launches into a flash argument. "If you vote for me, I promise you will see the difference. It’s important to vote locally, this is where it all starts! " writes Marjorie Prophete, candidate for the city council of Sugar Hill, Georgia.
The time expired, Ryanne Olsen, who runs the workshop, probes the group: "We assume that our constituents are warm, but that is not always the case! " The participants take note, then the scenarios are linked. This time, they have to convert a supporter of Donald Trump, then thwart the trap of a chatterbox who wants to lure them into her home. The scenarios are done in a good mood, but, here, nobody is having fun. All are Democrat candidates for 2020 elections. Some are seeking a seat in Congress, others are local, they come from Tennessee, Kansas, Georgia or Wisconsin, but almost all are campaigning for the first time.
Powerful godmothers
Being a candidate, and above all winning an election, can be learned. The door-to-door exercise is just part of a three-day program organized by Emerge America from February 7 to 9 in Atlanta. Inspired by elected officials like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib or Ilhan Omar, more and more women, new to politics, decided to get started. Often progressive, they campaign against climate change, in favor of health insurance for all, free education, the raising of the minimum wage.
Behind this new democratic wave, associations are at work. Emerge America, Emily’s List, She Should Run, Matriarch or Justice Democrats scrutinize rising political stars and offer them training, networks and visibility. In eighteen years of existence, Emerge America has trained more than 4,000 women. For a candidate unknown to the public, the support of one of these organizations can in a few days explode her number of subscribers on Twitter and attract donors.
