Here’s How We Just Won Again in Northern Cayuga County

And the “bad guys” are getting really, really nervous about it. They believe that we’re plotting a Democrat takeover that has them calling us wolves in sheep’s clothing and seeing socialists behind every tree, immigrants invading our schools, and even communists under every rock.

The Mayoral candidate we ran on an Independent Line and won is a Democrat. It appears he is the first Democrat Mayor ever. And, in one door-to-door encounter, he was asked by a potential voter. “What are you going to do when busloads of Mexicans get dropped off on Main Street?”

The Mayor of this sleepy little tourist town on the North Coast of America (Lake Ontario) has nothing to do with immigrants one way or another.

Except that our Village is in the 2nd largest apple-growing region in the United States and the industry depends almost entirely on migrant labor.

It may seem a small point but it’s an indication that there are a ton of MAGA people among the electorate. “Fuck Biden” flags fly along the roads in our rural farmland. Trump banners fly along the quaint Main Street. And, the County itself from top to bottom votes staunchly Republican … except for the County seat which is firmly Democrat.

So how did we win?

By appealing to Unaffiliated voters and with a message that “There is no red or blue in local elections … only community”.

Unaffiliated voters used to be called “Blanks”. But the more politically appropriate term is now “Unafilliated” which means they chose not to register in any political party. And, they’re the fastest growing group of voters across the United States … still just behind Democrats, but pushing Republicans to an oddly placed third party choice.

Even in North Carolina … in the news lately and which is so far to the right their cars don't even turn left, registrations of unaffiliated in the MAGA state outpace Republicans.

So what does all this mean to local elections in 2025?

Simple..

To win, you need to turn out the sleepy Democratic base who has stopped voting in local elections because they haven’t had a choice at the ballot box, and appeal to Unaffiliated voters who make up a healthy portion of the electorate.

It equals a win.

Democrats for too long spend all their GOTV efforts to just get out their base. Difficult when year after year after year, there is no reason to come out and vote for Blue Democrats in Red Republican country. We’re underfunded, inexperienced, and generally are labeled as sacrificial lambs.

In this political climate, what we really need to do is expand by following two simple precepts:

1.)  Make sure Democrats know there is a competitive election, messaging: “This is going to be a close election… very close and your vote counts!”

2.)  Educate Unaffiliated voters that the Democrat is not a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but instead, “Your neighbor who believes that red and blue should be left to national politics. What we need to do is take care of ourselves”.

How it’s done is important. And it’s messaging, pure and simple. (We’ll be going in-depth on messaging in the future, but this is a start.)