PWN-USA ran 3 voter engagement campaigns this fall election season in Texas-Greater Houston Area, Pennsylvania, & Colorado. Our campaigns focused on what matters most to our members & their communities: abortion rights, harm reduction, & decarcerating public health. 

We are incredibly proud of our PWN members, volunteers, campaign leaders, & national staff who showed up in ways beyond our wildest imagination, working through the pain & exhaustion & bringing joy & hope with them every step of the way. Through their efforts, we knocked on over 100,000 doors & called over 300,000 voters to build power in our communities, educate folks about the issues that matter to us, & get out the vote. 

This has been our strongest voter engagement campaign season yet, and we will continue to fight for our communities year round. Our strength lies in our shared resilience, mutual support, and unwavering vision of a brighter, inclusive future. No matter the outcome of any election, nothing can break our commitment to ourselves, each other, & our collective liberation.

For an in-depth look at all of PWN's voter engagement efforts in 2024 click the button below!
 

PWN-Pennsylvania

In 2023, Philadelphia elected a new mayor who has focused on dismantling life-saving harm reduction culture, tools, and resources—recently removing all funding for safe syringe programs (SSP’s) even though Philadelphia has the country’s largest open-air drug market. PWN-PA identified how this issue is impactful to their communities, and ran a huge campaign at a time when the world’s eyes were on Pennsylvania.

Our incredible PA team canvassed and phone banked tirelessly, making all of this happen:

  • 60,000+ phone calls made
  • 37,500+ doors knocked
  • 11,300+ conversations with voters
  • 1,300+ voters identified in favor of safe syringe programs
  • We continued building trust and recognition throughout North Philadelphia, and developed the skills and leadership of dozens of folks living with HIV and allies. 

“One of my favorite moments was talking with folks that I hadn’t seen in years. There’s an older gentleman on 25th Street who said, ‘I am the Mayor of this block, and we are going to vote,’” said Colette White, a PA canvasser.
 

PWN-Colorado

The CO chapter had been talking about reproductive justice with community members for years, and this election, abortion was on the ballot! Amendment 79 would make abortion a constitutional right in Colorado, prohibiting state and local governments from denying the right to abortion, and it would repeal an existing ban on the use of public funds on abortion services.

Our incredible CO team canvassed and phone banked tirelessly, making all of this happen:

  • 20,000+ phone calls attempted
  • 3,500+ doors knocked
  • 550+ voters identified in favor of abortion rights
  • 76% of identified supporters made their voting plans with PWN
  • Amendment 79 passed, making the state a safe haven for everyone in need of abortion care in bordering states and beyond!

“I’ve been involved with PWN almost four years and been a part of the campaigns. Getting involved with the community, building trust, and getting to know them was a great experience. I plan to continue to work with PWN for many more campaigns as well as anything else they may need my help with. The PWN Colorado chapter is loving, caring, and feels like family,” said Toi Hughes, a Colorado canvasser.
 

PWN - Texas, Greater Houston Area

The Greater Houston Area chapter of PWN-TX ran a campaign focused on educating voters on the important role that the District Attorney and Sheriff both play in criminalizing abortion.

Our incredible GHA team phone banked in staggering numbers, and made all of this happen:

  • Nearly 120,000 phone calls attempted!!!
  • 15,500+ conversations with voters encouraging them to elect candidates who would not prioritize investigations against abortion care seekers and providers
  • Co-hosted a non-partisan candidates forum

“One thing I’ve come to learn about people in our community is that some of them are grateful for the reminders and encouragement. We get to explain to them certain issues that they don’t understand and share tools they aren’t familiar with. They have questions for us; we are that voice during election seasons. If they aren’t computer savvy, we go the extra mile to help assist them with voting precincts closest to them, dates, and phone numbers,” said Jessica Erves, a Houston phone banker.
 

Read all about our fall voter engagement campaigns below, including:

  • what was at stake in each state
  • who we reached
  • what we did on election day
  • and how we're building power in our communities!