Metro DC DSA is gearing up to win big for the 2026 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 throughout what is shaping up to be a critical point in our nation’s history. Over the next six months, Metro DC DSA will be carrying out an ambitious electoral project designed to rally, and then anchor, working-class power in regional governments.

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 happy hour bringing together new folks and experienced organizers alike. It’s important we create space for mentorship, relationship building, and solidarity.

Sunday, February 1 – Electoral Organizing 101

Time: 2:30 - 5:30

Location: Event Spaces at Friends Meeting of Washington (2111 Decatur Pl NW, Washington, DC 20008)

Who should attend:
Anyone, no prior experience required (Invite your friends!)

Goal: Participants will have an introduction to the relationships between DSA and electoral organizing, and we will have a guest from Zohran’s campaign. We will go over the basics of door-to-door canvassing and then split up into groups to apply this training to organize a real canvass.

Training topics include:

• Why DSA invests in electoral organizing

• Hearing directly from a guest from Zohran’s campaign
  
  

• Why canvassing is a core tactic for winning
  
  

• Hands-on canvassing best practices, which includes building understanding of campaign structures and engagement pipeline to support long-term participation
  
  

• Introduction to VAN/MiniVAN (time permitting, with space to practice)
  
  

• Overview of Metro DC DSA endorsements, candidate context, and door goals, including how to use the campaign dashboard
  
  

Working session on planning and launching canvasses (Electoral Deep Dive/Day 1 participants are required to attend, barring emergencies)