Case Studies

Blue Wave Victories in 2018

National Democratic County Officials (NDCO) is the Democratic Party organization that supports the efforts of Democratic county officials.  This election cycle, under the leadership of Chairman Unzell Kelley (Coosa County, AL), county officials worked together to empower and support fellow Democrats running for county office.   County officials across the country engaged with staff and helped identify races to target and candidates to endorse for the first time in the committee’s history.

NDCO built a political program to work with a wide range of county candidates. NDCO provided these candidates guidance, digital tools, and training to help them build better campaigns. Success will not only be measured by the winners but also the candidates who came up short but who will be better candidates and activists in the future. This work will impact the political landscape for years to come.

The Election Protection Task Force, chaired by Maricopa County (Phoenix, AZ) Recorder Adrian Fontes, identified six races where Democrats could elect elections administrators in strategic counties.  Victories earned by these inspiring candidates will help advance voter participation and fair elections in counties that count more than seven million people, including Harris County, TX and Washoe County, NV, two incredibly important swing counties nationally.

NDCO highlighted eleven strong candidates who would be critical to helping elevate Democratic control opportunities.  The Winning Majorities Task Force can boast six wins that provide Democrats with local Democratic majorities or commissions on the precipice of such control.

Mecklenberg County (Charlotte, NC) Commissioner Trevor Fuller chaired the Emerging America Task Force that saw five of the six candidates declare victory on election night.  The Emerging America Task Force identified and supported diverse candidates who better reflect the communities they now represent. This is an important first step in creating reflective majorities for the Democratic Party at the county level.

Finally, NDCO identified candidates who can build the infrastructure of the Democratic Party and provide a foundation for Democratic majorities and progressive policies in the future. The Infrastructure Builders Task Force was victorious in four of nine races.

Overall, county races were contested in over 2,000 counties nationwide on election day.  NDCO strategically supported candidates who will make a difference.

Thirty-two candidates were identified and Democrats were successful in 20 races.  Importantly, half of the seats won were previously occupied by Republicans.

Building on 2017 Victories & Lessons from 2018

Local Democrats are leading a resurgence for the party. Equipped with fundamentally sound and pragmatic policy solutions that are rooted in the shared values of all Americans, voters have realized that Democrats will be there every step of the way. 

Northampton County, Pennsylvania, was by definition a swing county.  This middle-class suburb of Allentown has historically supported Democrats at the presidential level but was controlled by Republicans locally.   Voters flipped script in 2016 and voted Republican at the top of the ticket, only to return the favor in 2017 and give local control back to Democrats. 

Now it is on local Democrats to demonstrate the value transparent and honest government can offer.

2018 Road Map for Success

Maricopa County is critical for Democrats at every level. Democrats who stand for something, and actually run on the ballot, can win and help turn the tide.  In 2012, five of the six county leadership races went uncontested to Republicans in Maricopa.  Building on the success of 2016, NDCO and local Democrats will aim to occupy every seat after the 2020 elections.

2016 Cautionary Tale

Local Democrats need to be active. Democrats dominate the local government landscape in Trumbull County.  Local Democrats understand voters, and giving our members a voice within the Democratic Party is what NDCO does best.