Swing Left Launches Ground Truth, Nationwide Program to Transform How Democrats Rebuild Trust with Voters to Win in 2026 and Beyond
Multimillion-dollar organizing program pairs deep human conversations with AI-powered technology, helping Democrats listen earlier, engage more broadly, and rebuild trust
November 17, 2025 — Swing Left, one of the largest drivers of grassroots action helping Democrats win competitive races nationwide, today announced the public launch of Ground Truth, a multimillion-dollar program fundamentally reimagining how Democrats connect with voters. The organization is also releasing early findings from 25 pilot canvasses conducted this fall in 14 competitive swing districts across 9 states that validate the program's approach and announcing plans for nationwide expansion in January 2026.
Ground Truth is built around a simple idea: before Democrats can persuade, we have to be better at listening. Swing Left volunteers have started early—more than a year before the midterms, knocking on every door in swing districts, including those often left off traditional lists. They have deep, two-way conversations and capture what voters are saying using new technology Swing Left helped design. Swing Left aggregates and shares those rich insights directly with campaigns and state parties, so they can speak to what voters are actually experiencing. Through this program, Swing Left is uncovering persuadable voters who would otherwise be missed, re-engaging disillusioned Democrats, and identifying new paths to victory in 2026 and beyond.
“The stakes of this moment requires us to be ruthlessly pragmatic about what it takes to swing the national balance of power,” said Yasmin Radjy, Executive Director of Swing Left. “We can’t do what we’ve done before and expect different results. Winning back power starts with rebuilding voters’ trust. That requires showing up earlier, talking to everyone, listening not lecturing, and sharing the real needs of voters directly with campaigns.”
A New Model for Listening and Learning
Ground Truth aims to fix what's broken in how Democrats do voter contact, based on the problems Swing Left has witnessed first-hand over the past eight years of connecting our one million members nationwide into Democratic campaign organizing.
Traditional Democratic voter contact has become too narrow and too late—built on incomplete voter data, outdated technology, and limited targeting that overlooks potential supporters. Campaigns typically knock only on doors of likely Democrats shortly before Election Day, leaving roughly 25 percent of potential voters in competitive districts completely off their target lists. Too often, these efforts reduce conversations to quick, transactional exchanges focused solely on turnout rather than persuasion or trust-building.
Ground Truth takes a fundamentally different approach by pairing face-to-face volunteer-led conversations with AI-powered technology designed to capture, track, and draw actionable insights from what voters are really experiencing. By starting outreach more than a year before Election Day, volunteers can help campaigns identify and build genuine relationships with persuadable Republicans, Independents, and disengaged or disillusioned Democrats, allowing them time to respond to what voters actually care about. Every conversation is designed to go deeper, with volunteers trained to have 10–15 minute discussions that focus on listening, not delivering talking points.
Behind this effort is a new constellation of technologies that Swing Left has helped build to power deep listening, analysis, and information sharing at scale:
A canvassing app, developed with Everybody Techworks, allows volunteers to record open-ended notes in voters’ own words.
A central data CRM platform that integrates those insights across conversations and districts.
AI-assisted analysis that identifies recurring patterns of frustration, hope, and distrust that traditional polling and canvassing often misses.
Secure data sharing of these insights with Democratic campaigns and state parties through the Democratic Data Exchange, enabled by a 2024 Federal Election Commission (FEC) advisory opinion on coordinated canvassing, complementing voter data from the Democratic National Committee (DNC)’s Phoenix system.
Together, these components fill critical gaps and limitations in legacy tools designed for short, scripted voter contact and outdated data models, and create the foundation for sustained, trust-building conversations.
Early Findings Point to Untapped Potential for Democrats
Results from Ground Truth's pilot canvasses conducted this fall in 14 swing districts—AZ-01, CA-45, CO-08, IA-01, IA-03, NJ-09, NY-04, NY-17, NY-19, OR-05, PA-07, PA-10, VA-07, WI-03—reveal significant opportunities for Democrats:
Traditional targeting misses many persuadable voters: About one in four voters coded as Republican (either through registration or modeled partisanship) expressed explicit concern about Trump, openness to voting for Democrats, or alignment with progressive priorities—indicating that conventional voter contact efforts are overlooking potentially persuadable voters.
Voters want to engage: Two-thirds of people who answered their doors held meaningful, 10-15 minute conversations. Voters across the political spectrum expressed pleasant surprise that Democrats were interested in listening to them, not just asking for their votes.
The system feels broken: In nearly half of conversations, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike expressed frustration and disillusionment with both political parties, distrust of institutions, disappointment in leaders, and a sense that "no one is looking out for people like me"—a theme not systematically tracked by federal or state party entities in their canvassing and voter files.
Issues are more complex than single-topic framing: In more than 80% of conversations, voters brought up at least two motivating issues, suggesting traditional single-issue categorization is insufficient for understanding what drives voter engagement.
Volunteers are enthusiastic: 93 percent of pilot canvassers said they would recommend Ground Truth to a friend, consistently reporting that voters were more open to talking than in traditional canvasses and that even those who disagreed strongly were willing to engage in meaningful conversation.
"It felt good to ask open-ended questions and listen to the answers without the pressure of getting a commitment to a candidate or a plan to vote, so the experience was much deeper," said Mara D., an experienced canvasser in Iowa. "Everyone I spoke to was happy to talk, and to share their fears, their anger, and their hope."
Ben E., a first-time canvasser in Colorado, added: "I drove home thinking that Ground Truth can provide so many benefits like hearing issues first hand, establishing a deeper relationship with voters AND it also occurred to me that it can be a real differentiator in terms of the brand of the Democratic Party. I felt like an ambassador for the party and felt as though we left a good, open-minded impression even with the Trump Supporters. If we are the party of empathic listeners, consistent presence, and courage to talk to everyone, that has to mean something at the ballot box when voters are considering their options."
Scaling Up for 2026
Starting in January 2026, Swing Left will expand Ground Truth to volunteers nationwide—bringing deep-listening canvasses and phone banks to more battleground House districts where control of Congress will be decided. The next phase will layer in a focused persuasion strategy, exploring voters’ feelings about Democrats and barriers to supporting them in the midterms. The qualitative data collected from these conversations will paint a detailed picture of the challenges Democrats face in winning over new voters and winning back voters they've lost—providing a roadmap to persuasion in the 2026 midterm elections and beyond.
Working directly with frontline candidates and, later on, Democratic nominees in red-to-blue districts, Ground Truth’s early, data-driven, and pragmatic approach aims to help Democrats strengthen trust, build lasting relationships, and win critical elections in 2026 and beyond.
Ground Truth focuses exclusively on helping Democrats defeat Republicans in general elections and does not get involved in primary contests. This results-oriented approach allows Swing Left to direct all resources toward flipping seats and defending vulnerable Democrats in the most competitive districts.
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About Swing Left
Since launching in 2017, Swing Left has proven the effectiveness of early, sustained, and smart grassroots organizing. Our 1 million members have raised more than $140 million for Democratic candidates, organizations, and voter mobilization efforts, and reached out to more than 50 million voters through phone calls, door knocks, and Vote Forward letters.
In 2024 alone, Swing Left's volunteers knocked on 1.6 million doors, made 3.8 million calls, wrote more than 11 million letters, and raised more than $25 million—critical actions that helped Democrats in swing districts buck national trends and secure razor-thin victories. Our highly strategic, data-driven approach resulted in Democrats significantly outperforming national trends in our target areas.
For more information, visit www.swingleft.org.
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What Others Are Saying About Ground Truth
Elected Officials
Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-18): "If we want to restore faith in Democrats, we've got to earn it back the hard way — by knocking on doors, having honest conversations, and listening to people who feel unheard. Swing Left's Ground Truth model is showing how we can do that at scale, combining the best of grassroots organizing with new tools that actually help campaigns learn from voters. It's a blueprint for how Democrats can reconnect with Americans everywhere and prove that government can still work for them."
Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08): "Real leadership starts with listening. That is why I have personally been knocking on doors across mid-Michigan all year, and it is why I am excited about Swing Left's Ground Truth effort. By having real and ongoing conversations with people, not just when we need their votes, we build trust and learn about what is really happening in their lives. Those strengthened bonds will not only help us win elections in 2026, but also deliver meaningful results when we do."
Congressman Derek Tran (CA-45): "In CA-45, our communities are diverse and fast-changing, and the only way to represent them well is to stay in conversation year-round. Swing Left's Ground Truth program creates space for genuine dialogue across every neighborhood so we can better understand and reflect our communities' experiences. Hearing directly from families, veterans, and small-business owners gives us insights no poll or algorithm could ever provide, and it's how we'll build lasting power heading into 2026 and beyond."
Congressman Eugene Vindman (VA-07): "Virginia's Seventh District is home to families, workers, and veterans who deserve a government that listens and delivers. I'm grateful for Swing Left's Ground Truth program, which helps rebuild trust in our institutions by connecting volunteers directly with voters to talk about what's working, what's broken, and how we can fix it together. Grassroots partnerships like this are how we strengthen our democracy and lower the cost of living — and how we build the momentum to win back the House in 2026."
Congressman Josh Riley (NY-19): "Upstate New York has a deep tradition of folks looking out for one another — and that's exactly what Ground Truth is all about. Swing Left's volunteers are already out having meaningful, one-on-one conversations with voters across small towns and rural communities about the issues that define their lives — jobs, healthcare, and affordability. Ground Truth's early engagement is strengthening democracy and our campaign."
Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05): "The Fifth District stretches from Portland's suburbs to Oregon's rural towns, and voters everywhere are eager to be heard. Swing Left's volunteers have been walking doors and talking with voters in Oregon's 5th for years, and Ground Truth is deepening that work by helping us listen first, understand what's really on people's minds, and strengthen trust across the district. Starting these conversations early expands what any single office or candidate can do alone, helps me better represent my constituents, and lays the groundwork Democrats need to win the big fights ahead."
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Organizational Leaders
Christina Coloroso, Executive Director, Analyst Institute: "We're in a moment that calls for ambitious experimentation — trying big new things and learning quickly what works. Ground Truth is aiming to do just that. Its focus on authentic conversations with often overlooked voters, paired with new technology to generate evidence-based insights at scale, may help unlock new learnings to guide strategy long before and after Election Day."
Kat Atwater, Founder and CEO, Community Tech Alliance: "Ground Truth is exactly the kind of innovation our movement urgently needs. So much of the technology Democrats rely on to connect with voters is outdated and holding us back. Swing Left is helping craft the future-facing data infrastructure and technology stack for the progressive ecosystem that can fuel our shared success and push us all forward."
Tara McGowan, Publisher and CEO, COURIER Newsroom: “I'm a firm believer that one of the Democratic Party’s biggest failures has been neglecting to listen to voters and trying to understand not only their positions on poll-tested issues, but how they are feeling about government, the Democratic Party, and whether or not they trust either to represent them. You don’t have to be a political strategist to understand that the majority of Americans are feeling disillusioned with both the Party and the system writ-large, you just have to have conversations with people outside of the beltway bubble. Ground Truth is such an overdue and necessary effort that is doing just that—knocking on the doors of all voters—not just registered Democrats—with no other agenda than to listen to them talk about their fears, frustrations, and unmet needs. If I were advising the Democratic Party, I would tell them to pay far closer attention to the conversations and trend lines Ground Truth surfaces than any poll they might commission a consultant to design.”
John Bisognano, President, National Democratic Redistricting Committee: "As someone who began my career organizing on the Obama campaign, I know how powerful it is to truly listen to voters — it's how we build trust and win. With so much at stake in the fight for fair maps and the future of our democracy, I'm thrilled to see Swing Left leading the way, combining innovation with the fundamentals of talking to people and building real connections in communities."
Jessica Mackler, Executive Director, EMILYs List: “Winning tough races that no one thought possible requires doing the important work of listening to voters, learning what matters most, and turning that into action. Swing Left’s Ground Truth is working to give campaigns the tools they need to run effective voter contact programs, because understanding and being able to respond directly to the struggles facing voters is critical to Democrats’ success in 2026 and beyond.”
Danielle Butterfield, President and Executive Director, Priorities USA: "This moment demands boldness — a willingness to look beyond analytics and data to truly listen to voters: what motivates them, what worries them, and what they hope for in the future. Ground Truth is a transformative model that will turn real conversations at the doors into smarter digital strategy and more authentic storytelling. At its heart, it reflects a shared understanding that we have more work to do — to listen better, align our mission with what voters value, and rebuild the trust that turns engagement into real momentum."
Amanda Coulombe, CEO, Democratic Data Exchange: I’m excited to partner with Ground Truth to rethink how campaigns learn from voters and from each other. DDx is about getting the best data into the right hands so programs can be smarter, faster, and more effective. Supporting innovative programs like Ground Truth by facilitating data movement and access shows exactly what investment in our infrastructure is built to do.
Kat Atwater, Founder and CEO, Community Tech Alliance: Ground Truth is exactly the kind of innovation our movement urgently needs. So much of the technology Democrats rely on to connect with voters is outdated and holding us back. Swing Left is helping craft the future-facing data infrastructure and technology stack for the progressive ecosystem that can fuel our shared success and push us all forward.
Liz Walters, CEO, TargetSmart: “The integrity of Democrats’ data is paramount to winning. Ground Truth provides the progressive ecosystem with real-time, on-the-ground insights that directly validates and enhances our understanding of the electorate. This investment in our voter data infrastructure, allows TargetSmart and our partners to focus resources where they will have the greatest strategic impact and deliver widespread wins for our candidates.”
Mike Lux, President, Progressive Strategies: "The future of progressive politics, and of the Democratic party, depends on connecting bold ideas with grassroots intelligence — the real, lived experiences of people across the country. Too often, that connection has been missing. Ground Truth aims to change that, turning what we learn from real conversations into strategy that wins. When progressives pair bold vision with real understanding of voters, we deliver lasting change."
Maeve Ward, Chief Research Strategy Officer, Grow Progress: “Ground Truth combines technology and human insight to flip the script on the standard relationship between messaging research and knocking on doors. By making real connections and collecting data at the same time, Ground Truth creates a continuous feedback loop, meaning voter communication is more relevant, more authentic, and more impactful.”
Political Operatives
JB Poersch, President, Senate Majority PAC: "Ground Truth is critically important. Deep listening and reaching voters where they are is the future of voter contact, and we need more organizations like Swing Left leading the way. Ground Truth will continue Swing Left's long tradition of running innovative programs that drive outsized electoral impact."
Jen Bluestein, Principal, Athena Strategy Partners: "Swing Left’s Ground Truth campaign is exactly the kind of work I would love to have funded when I was funding progressive work. By looking past the status quo way of operating and focusing on forging a new approach - knocking on more doors and sooner, listening and drawing genuine insights from those conversations, and connecting the data and the doors to campaigns and organizations for more engagement, Swing Left is building wider, deeper and more authentic connections to voters at a time where our ability to connect will make the difference between opportunity and progress or more drift into authoritarianism. It’s hard, deep, creative work and I’m grateful we all get to learn from it."
Michael Podhorzer, Former Political Director, AFL-CIO: “After decades of chasing national headlines, the Democratic movement needs to relearn how to talk to the working class about their lives, not just D.C. talking points. Ground Truth is an essential initiative because it provides the kind of granular, on-the-ground data that cuts through polling noise and institutional elitism. It’s the critical intelligence needed to rebuild our coalition with integrity and focus on the economic issues that truly unite the working families of this country.”
Jalisa Washington Price, Democratic Strategist: "From congressional races to presidential campaigns, I've seen firsthand how listening to voters face-to-face drives better outcomes and stronger campaigns. Ground Truth offers a powerful new model that can transform and strengthen campaigns and storytellers alike. Its real-world insight will help us better reflect the voices of our communities, particularly those who have been left behind and overlooked."
Heather Booth, Organizer and Political Strategist: "For more than fifty years, I've seen that real change comes from organizing people around their own life experiences. Ground Truth carries that tradition forward — combining new tech and tools with the timeless principles of listening, respect, and collective action. It's helping grow the next generation of organizers who believe, as I do, that when we act together, we can build a more just and compassionate nation."
Emmy Ruiz, Former White House Director of Political Strategy and Outreach, Biden-Harris Administration: “Winning elections starts with meeting people where they are and earning their trust. That principle is at the core of Ground Truth. By knocking on every door and reaching the 25% of people traditional campaigns miss, we build essential trust through authentic, two-way conversations. That’s how we win elections, shape policy that works for everyone, and build a system that represents us all.”
