DNC Rolls Out 'Local Listeners' to Reclaim 1M+ Infrequent Voters Ahead of 2026

Democrats have launched Local Listeners, a new early-outreach initiative aimed at re-engaging more than one million “infrequent” voters in key battleground districts as the party prepares for the 2026 midterms.

Program Overview

The Democratic National Committee unveiled the effort on Wednesday, describing it as the party’s most ambitious early midterm outreach to date. The DNC says Local Listeners builds on recent off‑year victories — including an unexpected win in Texas — and aims to restore trust and turnout through sustained, local contact well before Election Day.

Goals and Tactics

The program targets voters who supported Joe Biden in 2020 but did not vote in 2024. The DNC has set concrete goals: at least 250,000 phone conversations and more than 50 grassroots events in pivotal congressional districts by the end of March. More than 2,000 volunteers have already signed up to participate.

Training and Approach

Volunteers will complete a seven‑week training regimen focused on engaging low‑propensity voters through techniques such as active listening and de‑escalating difficult political conversations. The DNC emphasizes early, localized conversations rather than last‑minute outreach.

"If we want to keep earning back the trust and support of voters, we have to listen to them," DNC Chair Ken Martin said. "This program modernizes the way we are talking to and hearing from the voters that we need to win elections now and for years to come. The Democratic Party is done with waiting until the last minute to engage voters — these conversations need to happen early and often."

Context and Competition

The effort mirrors tactics used by the Trump campaign in 2024, which invested heavily in outreach to newly registered and low‑propensity voters. Pew Research Center analysis shows voters who voted in 2024 but skipped 2020 favored Trump by 54% to 42%, highlighting the importance of re‑engaging those who stayed home.

Financially, the Republican National Committee begins 2026 with a fundraising edge. Federal filings show the RNC raised $172 million in 2025 and ended the year with about $95 million on hand; the DNC reported raising $146 million but finished with roughly $14 million available and approximately $17 million in debt.

What To Watch

Democratic leaders view Local Listeners as a chance to convert recent momentum into sustained turnout gains across gubernatorial and congressional contests. The program’s success will hinge on volunteer recruitment, the quality of training and conversations, and whether early contact can translate into votes in November.

Bottom line: Local Listeners is a focused attempt to reclaim a crucial slice of the electorate — voters who helped elect Biden in 2020 but sat out in 2024 — using early, human-centered outreach to rebuild trust and boost turnout.