To: Interested Parties
From: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Date: September 9, 2024
Subject: Democrats’ Focus on Freedom Will Win Them the House
“This election is about our rights, our freedoms, our democracy, and our future.” – DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene
Donald Trump and House Republicans are attacking Americans’ freedoms – rolling back reproductive freedoms, banning books in schools, and dictating to people who they are allowed to love or how they can or cannot build a family. These far-right extremists are hellbent on restricting rights and taking away Americans’ freedoms.
House Democrats are the only party fighting to defend freedoms for all Americans, and elevating and investing in messaging that makes that stark contrast crystal clear is essential for House Democrats to energize voters.
VOTERS KNOW REPUBLICANS WON’T DEFEND THEIR FREEDOMS
Polling shows that 84% of Americans are concerned that their fundamental rights and freedoms are under threat, including majorities of both Democrats and Republicans. Now, as voters learn more about Project 2025 and Republicans’ plan for the next Trump administration, they are increasingly concerned by the role this agenda would have in undermining their rights and freedoms. 61% of voters see their rights and freedoms at risk if Donald Trump and Republicans were to take back control of Congress and the White House in November.
Polling also shows a majority of voters associate Democrats with “protecting freedom.” Multiple polls released in August, including in surveys released after the Democratic National Convention, show Vice President Harris and Democrats with as much as a six-point advantage over Trump and Republicans when it comes to protecting voters’ rights and freedoms.
IN PAID AND EARNED MEDIA, DEMOCRATS PUT FREEDOM AT THE FOREFRONT
Voters know that Republicans are trying to take away freedoms, and that’s why it is incumbent on House Democrats to focus on calling out GOP attacks on reproductive freedom, economic freedom, and freedom from violence or fear. In public-facing media, both paid and earned, House Democrats and candidates are engaging and energizing voters with messaging that centers on the fight for our freedoms.
During the Democratic National Convention, Rep. Pat Ryan (NY-18) outlined the clear contrast between Republicans and Democrats on this issue:
When Kamala Harris talks about freedom, patriotism, reproductive freedom, economic freedom, freedom to breathe clean air and [drink clean] water… The whole founding ideology of our country is about freedom… You want to piss off the American people? Take their freedom away.
In Iowa, Red to Blue candidates Christina Bohannan (IA-01) and Lanon Baccam (IA-03) have embraced this message. Bohannan released an ad promising to “always fight for rights and freedoms” in the face of Miller-Meeks’ anti-abortion attacks, while Baccam talked about joining the National Guard and swearing “an oath to protect our rights and freedoms” in a recent ad.
In Pennsylvania, Ashley Ehasz (PA-01) introduced herself to voters in an early August ad featuring her military record and her time spent “fighting to protect our country’s freedoms,” and invoked the same sentiment in digital fundraising efforts. Janelle Stelson (PA-10) released multiple ads focusing on freedom, the first attacking her opponent (“Perry is not for freedom. He’s all about his power”) and the second reiterating her commitment to “protecting our freedom.” Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-08) recently put out an ad highlighting his work to defend reproductive rights, “fighting for freedoms we never thought would be taken away.”
In earned media, Eugene Vindman (VA-07) has focused his candidacy on fighting for freedoms and highlighting his career in service. Lucia Baez-Geller (FL-27) wrote a personal op-ed about getting an abortion for an unviable pregnancy and the fight to protect that same freedom for all Floridians. During a recent rally in Omaha, Tony Vargas (NE-02) reminded the audience that “Donald Trump, a convicted felon, is running to take away Americans’ freedoms and rights,” and that Tony is running to fight to protect reproductive freedom. After winning her primary in WI-03, Rebecca Cooke similarly called out Rep. Derrick Van Orden and extreme politicians like him as threats “to our freedoms, democracy, and pocketbooks.”
Democrats have also spoken about the fight for freedoms in digital fundraising efforts. In Pennsylvania, Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA-17) invoked economic freedoms and the “freedom to join a union.” Red to Blue candidate Dave Min (CA-47) reminded voters about the important opportunities we have to “protect our freedoms.”
BOTTOM LINE
House Republicans have gone all in on Donald Trump, Project 2025, and an outright assault on American freedoms. The public knows it, and across the battlefield, DCCC candidates and Frontliners are engaging the issue and working diligently to ensure voters know that electing House Democrats means codifying the protections of Roe, fighting for families and investing in their economic freedom, and standing up to Donald Trump and House Republicans’ plans to attack their freedoms. This strong contrast messaging is essential to help Democrats reclaim the House majority to defend our rights, freedoms, democracy, and future.
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