Harvard Dems Knock on More Than 6,000 Doors Ahead of Midterms

The Harvard College Democrats have knocked on the doors of more than 6,000 voters this fall, targeting competitive races across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Ohio ahead of the November midterm elections.

Dominick F. Lombard ’27, co-president of the Harvard College Democrats, said the group has organized canvassing trips over the past five weeks.

“One of the really interesting things this election cycle is that the key to flipping the Senate runs basically right through New England, with keeping the New Hampshire seat and also flipping the Maine seat,” Lombard said. “We’ve really had a great opportunity to be able to canvass and get on the ground in many of these competitive states.”

This fall, students in the organization have canvassed for candidates including Amy L. Acton and Sherrod C. Brown in Ohio, Troy D. Jackson (D-Maine) in Maine, U.S. Representative Christopher C. Pappas ’02 (D-N.H.) in New Hampshire, and Massachusetts Governor Maura T. Healey ’92 and U.S. Senator Ed J. Markey (D-Mass.) in Cambridge.

Though each canvassing group typically includes around 10 students, Henry D. Pahlow ’28, the campaigns director of the Harvard College Democrats, said their efforts can add up quickly.

“You bring a handful of folks that talk to five to 10 voters each in a day, you’re really moving the margins in an election,” Pahlow said.

The group’s most recent canvassing trip to New Hampshire two weeks ago, organized with student groups at Brown and Dartmouth, reached 1,700 voters, Lombard said. On Oct. 3, six students traveled to Maine to canvass for Senate candidate Jackson, with another group planning to return this weekend. Eight students also traveled to Ohio on Oct. 2 for a weekend of canvassing.

Students unable to travel have phone banked for campaigns including Mary S. Peltola’s in Alaska and James D. Talarico’s (D-Texas) in Texas.

For more ambitious trips, like the group’s efforts in Ohio, outreach to campaigns helped secure housing for volunteers. Closer to home, the group relies on support from Swing Left, a grassroots progressive organization, and Crimson Goes Blue, an alumni political group.

Lombard said the Harvard College Democrats aim both to persuade undecided voters and ensure likely Democratic voters have plans to cast their ballots.

Student volunteers said individual conversations have brought the stakes of the elections into focus. Karina M. Castillo ’30, who canvassed in Maine, wrote that she walked one undecided voter who was the primary caregiver for his wife through Jackson’s priorities for reducing health care costs.

Rather than trying to “force voters to vote a certain way,” Jacob R. Wolmetz ’30, who canvassed in New Hampshire and Cambridge, wrote that he seeks to inform voters through conversations about issues they care about.

Rafael Farrera-Juarez ’30, who canvassed for Pappas in New Hampshire, wrote that Harvard students are “known for talking,” but the most useful thing they can do in unfamiliar places is listen.

Lombard said the Harvard College Democrats have the potential to influence the outcomes of close races. In one 2024 race, he said, the group and other volunteers knocked on about 1,500 doors — more than the roughly 1,200-vote margin by which the Democratic candidate won.

The focus of the Harvard College Democrats this fall, Lombard said, is “ensuring that we win these really important races and put a stop on the Trump administration.”

“The moment is now,” Pahlow said. “It’s all hands on deck, and we don’t want to have a repeat of 2024.”