WELCOME, NEIGHBORS.
There are plenty of Democrats in Franklin Park, but it took the 2016 election to shock us into action. Now we’re an experienced coalition of voters, canvassers, donors, fundraisers, postcard-writers, sign-posters candidate-recruiters – grassroots activists of all kinds.
So far, we’ve elected five Democrats to the North Allegheny School Board and four to the Franklin Borough Council – all this in a previously “ruby-red” area where nobody but Republicans had been elected for 30-plus years.
- See what the New York Times said about our approach to grass roots politics.
But it’s not all politics. We’re social too, and we help build a better community by cleaning up roadsides and organizing food drives.
Please join us!
- See some options for getting involved.
- Come to a monthly meeting: 7-8:30 PM every second Monday by Zoom or at the borough building.
Questions? Email us at franklinparkdems@yahoo.com
Our Action Plan:
2022
Elect these Democrats on November 8:
- John Fetterman - U.S. Senate
- Josh Shapiro - PA governor
- Austin Davis - lieutenant governor
- Chris Deluzio - U.S. House
- Arvind Venkat - PA House
2023
Win majorities on Franklin Park Borough Council and the North Allegheny School Board.
2024
Elect and re-elect Democrats to these offices:
- U.S. President
- U.S. Senate
- U.S. House
- PA Senate
- PA House
Our success has attracted national attention.
Electing Democrats is what we do. And our success has attracted national attention.
Excerpt from the NEW YORK TIMES, August 1, 2022:
Dr. Putnam has been observing progressive infrastructure in Pittsburgh’s once ruby-red northern suburbs since 2017, when ordinary voters appalled by Donald Trump came together by the dozens and then hundreds, hoping to contest every seat, in every election. In 2017 they helped elect the first Democrat within memory to the North Allegheny school board; in 2018 they helped flip a State Senate seat and oust an incumbent Republican congressman. In 2019 they battled for town council seats.
Each year, they gained experience and had more political conversations that were within their own community, but outside their own bubble. They heard firsthand their neighbors’ reactions to national Democrats’ sound bites. They learned not to overestimate the impact of anonymous contacting.
For 2021, they recruited four school board candidates, intentionally choosing people whose profile and networks did not just echo those of activists. Rather than spamming voters via distant digital volunteers, the team primarily sent the candidates themselves and trusted endorsers (community leaders and popular local incumbents) to knock on doors. Volunteers instead focused on hyperlocal fund-raising and house parties, capitalizing on their existing ties rather than ignoring them.
Dr. Putnam handed out cards for the candidates on Election Day, watching as the campaign team executed a turnout effort reminiscent of an old-fashioned party machine. In the face of a huge infusion of Republican cash and attacks on mask mandates, Covid policies and “critical race theory,” two of the four were elected, and one of them is thought to be the first African American ever to serve on the North Allegheny school board. Their supporters are already at work on the next election.