Metro DC DSA is gearing up for the 2026 general election cycle!

This two-day Electoral Training Intensive is designed to grow our bench of organizers, build real skills, and bring together DSA members, allied organizations and movements, and new folks into meaningful, sustained participation in our electoral project. Over the next few months, Metro DC DSA will be running a campaign for residents in Northern Virginia to vote "Yes on All 3" to enshrine reproductive freedom, marriage equality, and restoration of voting rights in the Virginia state constitution.

Building power also means building relationships. Throughout the weekend, there will be intentional opportunities to meet people, connect across experience levels, and make friends. We’ll wrap Sunday with a social bringing together new folks and experienced organizers alike. It’s important we create space for mentorship, relationship building, and solidarity.

Saturday, August 15 – Electoral Deep Dive

Time: 11:00am - 2:00pm

Location: (Address to be provided to RSVPs)

Who should attend:
This day is for "preparing members who already have some experience leading and/or launching a canvass to mentor and train new folks to lead their own canvasses within the electoral working group. You will be expected to attend at least part of the second day (August 16) to help train new volunteers and DSA members to become canvass leads themselves!

Goal:
To motivate, prepare, and skill up experienced organizers/canvassers into leadership roles. We’re training the trainers!

Training topics include:

• Distributed organizing: How to train others and the DSA engagement pipeline
  

• Developing a coaching mentality (with demos and practice)
  

• Why debriefs matter and how to recruit your team for future canvasses
  

• Identifying and developing new leaders
  

• Understanding door numbers, turf, and overall campaign strategy
  

• Overview of how Metro DC DSA will promote and run canvasses across multiple endorsed candidates
  

Note: Supplemental turf-cutting training may be offered on a separate date following this training for anyone from either day who wants to gain this valuable organizing skill.