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CONVERSATION ON A DOORSTEP [1]

['Blue Boomer', 'Greg Dworkin', 'Crimson Quillfeather']

Date: 2026-06-20  

I’ve made a new friend this year, a candidate for State Representative in a very red district in my very red state. His name is Chris. I’ll avoid personal details for two reasons. First, I haven’t his permission to tell this story. And second, the place doesn’t really matter. The experience is relevant wherever an election campaign is underway.

Chris has never run for office before. He’s not even been much involved in politics, beyond casting his vote. He just grew tired of watching unworthy candidates winning elections and enacting harmful policies and decided he needed to do something about it. His inexperience was obvious. Introducing himself to the friendliest possible audience, a meeting of Democratic activists, he made some impassioned remarks but neglected to mention his name. We had to prompt him to return to the rostrum. But Chris is a quick learner.

Setting out on his first canvass with a minivan turf of Democratic households, he encountered a middle-aged man seated on his front porch sipping a beer. This was not a target household, but Chris stopped to say hello. The porch sitter opened the conversation. “Are you selling something or running for something?” “Running for State Rep”, Chris replied, climbing the stairs and extending his hand. “Well, I don’t think much of politicians. They’re only out for themselves.”, the man observed. “President Trump is the only one even trying to do the right thing.”

Now I’ve been knocking doors for sixty years, starting with RFK – the real one – in 1968, and I know what I would have done at this point – disengaged. Thanked the man politely for his time and moved on to the next household, potentially more persuadable or even needing a reminder that an election was coming. I certainly would not have started a debate, trying to tell the guy how wrong he was about everything.

Chris didn’t do either of these things. Instead, he asked, “What do you think politicians ought to be doing?” That started a conversation. Soon they discovered they had something in common as veterans of military service. And they found points of agreement. The fellow didn’t like tax money going to wealthy parents to send their kids to ritzy private schools. He also thought they should spend money fixing the highway.

Now that former stranger has Chris’s lawn sign in his yard. But – and this is important – the guy still supports Trump. His politics didn’t transform; he just made a personal connection. “Chris is a regular guy. He’ll try to do the right thing. And if I have a problem, I can come to him for help.”

Note that I said the man still supports Trump. I didn’t call him a “Trumper”. The latter term carries lots of baggage. Is he a racist? A misogynist? A homophobe?” That’s not unlikely. Will he vote for other Democrats or just for Chris? Maybe his mind is opening, or maybe not. It’s quite conceivable that he’ll hurt the rest of the ticket. Instead of skipping the election, he’ll turn out to vote for Chris, and mark Republicans for all the other offices. Or – maybe – the next time Chris passes by, the fellow will ask, “Who do you like for Governor?”

[END]
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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/6/20/800058341/community/conversation-on-a-doorstep/

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