Democracy Protectors
State parties are out there every day working to protect our democracy. Below are some graphics to help spread the word about state parties and amplify the work they are doing.
THE NEW BATTLEFIELD PROJECT
An initiative of the Association of State Democratic Committees
Protecting the vote and winning elections in all 57 states and territories
The New Battlefield Project is a nationwide initiative from the Association of State Democratic Committees (ASDC) — backed by an initial seven-figure investment — to protect the vote and equip Democratic state parties and campaigns for what is coming ahead of the November 3 midterms. Built on the only year-round Democratic infrastructure in every state and territory, it prepares Democrats to anticipate, withstand, and respond to threats to free and fair elections — while driving early-vote turnout to win up and down the ballot. Thanks to sustained DNC investment, state parties are stronger than ever — and are doing their part to ensure a peaceful transfer of power.
Attempts to interfere with our elections are not new — but the scale of today’s threats is unprecedented: challenges to voter rolls, efforts to impede mail-in voting, and the threat of federal agents at the polls.
Three Components
1. Democracy Protectors. An unprecedented citizen training program that trains tens of thousands of volunteers to provide a peaceful, secure presence at polling locations — countering intimidation, including from ICE and other federal agents, and reinforcing public confidence in the vote. Volunteers wear blue as a visible counter-presence, register new voters, and focus on targeted House, Senate, and state legislative races. In coordination with the DNC, every state party will have a dedicated election protection director trained through an 11-part program, with weekly trainings through Election Day.
2. Democracy in Motion (Early Vote). The first-ever national early vote campaign — a sustained “bank your vote” push to turn Democratic voters out early, by mail and in person, through digital tools, toolkits, and targeted advertising focused on the communities most vulnerable to GOP interference, so ballots are banked before Election Day — making it more likely Democrats win, and harder for Trump and his allies to cheat.
3. The Democracy Defense Network. Led by strategist Simon Rosenberg, the Network identifies and counters illicit tactics — from disinformation and dark money to AI-driven manipulation and election subversion — before they take root. It links state parties to one another and to the national party committees in real time — so if something illicit happens anywhere, it is known and understood everywhere — supported by experts with experience fighting authoritarian tactics around the world.
How It Works
State parties build and run election-protection plans tailored to their key races, each backed by a dedicated, trained lead staffer.
Tens of Thousands of Volunteers urge their own networks to vote early, staff a local or assigned polling place in blue, and help register new voters in their community.
The ASDC connects every state party into one national network — shared training, a common system for tracking and resolving issues, a “hub” to combat misinformation, and national legal support.
Why It Matters
Counters the militarization of the polls with a welcoming, lawful presence for every voter
Moves Democrats from reacting to threats to anticipating them before they happen
Builds lasting infrastructure — not only for 2026, but for 2028 and beyond
By the Numbers
57
State & Territory Parties
10k+
of trained volunteers
25%
coverage goal across ~95,000 polling places
every state
election protection directors in every state
Minnesota
built on Minnesota’s 10,000-volunteer model