I had the opportunity to be a part of the get-out-the vote (GOTV) efforts with the Alabama Federation of Republican Women’s Mighty Alabama Strike Force. Joan Reynolds, Vice-Chairman of the Alabama GOP and Chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party, has been organizing volunteer teams for 16 years to be “boots on the ground” for Republican candidates, whether for canvassing or phone banking. As 1819 News’ Craig Monger wrote:
The Mighty Alabama Strike Force has operated since 2008, traveling to pivotal parts of the country to advocate for Republican candidates in various political races.
The group takes volunteers on week-long trips to battleground states to help elect GOP-backed candidates.
Having now watched it in action, I realize what a grassroots endeavor it is. Made possible by donations, both financial and otherwise, from other Republican Federated Women’s groups and the Alabama GOP, which pays for volunteers’ lodging, transportation and meals, the effort today commandeers 150 or more volunteers. “You give me the money, and I’ll get you the volunteers,” Reynolds told the Republican Party.
Reynolds keeps it streamlined, focusing on underdog candidates and battleground states, while honoring the sweat equity of people invested in their country enough to take time away from their families, jobs and businesses to have an impact in electoral politics, and ultimately, their country.
Missy, a member of my canvass team with whom I had the pleasure of riding with to Georgia, took a week of her personal vacation time to be part of influencing others to get out and vote.
Another volunteer, Kim, canvassed for then-Republican governor candidate Glenn Youngkin in 2022. She recalled the feelings of excitement and satisfaction watching Youngkin’s returns on election night, seeing the particular counties they made inroads into and flipped. “There’s nothing like it,” Kim said, “and our team really saw how we made a difference.”
In this pivotal election year, we went to the battleground state of Georgia. The original plan was for Pennsylvania, but the electoral map shifted making Georgia even more critical. Former President Donald Trump is planning a rally in Duluth, Ga., on Oct. 23, and another Mighty Alabama Strike Force team will be in the state at the end of October to make a final pitch for the Republican ticket. Georgia appears to be pivotal, and should it go for Trump and other Republicans, I can say that I was a part of making that happen.
Party alliances aside, as Jen-citizen, it was an eye-opening experience and one that every able-bodied American voter should do at least once in their lifetime. I recommend doing it in a different state from which you reside. Compared to Pennsylvania, Georgia is a hop from Alabama. But it was still different from my day-to-day, and in many ways, an unfamiliar landscape with different groups of people. I realized that while we may appear different, our needs, concerns, values and viewpoints are often the same.
One 86-year-old woman whose door I knocked on had tears in her eyes as she talked about her concern for our country. “I have cried more for America these last few years than I ever have in my life,” she said, thanking me for what I was doing.
A grandmother and grandfather who helped care for their five grandchildren were concerned about the price of groceries and how their property taxes seemed to only increase. The white husband also did not care for the constant push by Democrats to racially divide people. “I am not going to fall for it!” he said.
“It’s about the policies,” one black pastor said. “It’s not that I think Trump is the best. But Kamala just does not have what it takes. Trump has what it takes to turn things around.”
At this stage in the life of our country, many Americans feel things have come down to choosing the preservation of the freedoms we hold dear versus losing those freedoms wholesale. Others are very concerned about the rule of law. One sheriff’s deputy who I had the privilege to canvass joked, “I’m former military and law enforcement – who you think I’m gonna vote for?” From the ever-present threat of foreign actors to crime on the streets, Americans want to feel safe again, and law enforcement want to see criminals brought to justice. This used to be the American way – how did we lose that?
The members of the Mighty Alabama Strike Force also felt this way. Every volunteer strongly believes that America’s future is at stake, which is why they chose to be in Georgia for such a time as this. The team included two gentlemen from Florida, who decided to escape Hurricane Milton and do some good at the same time. While there were a handful of men, it was the women who organized and helped form most of the team. This has always been the case, Reynolds said:
Women are in every aspect of the home, from buying the food, to clothes, to making the budget and doing the actual legwork. We see the increase in prices, and how we have to pivot to stretch our dollar. We know firsthand how bad policy and inflation has affected our lives, so we are exercised to be the ones that help change that.
Denel, another member of my canvass team said it best: “It’s the women who will save this country.”
If God is merciful.
Nov. 5 will be a pivotal time where all of us will be on tiptoe. Let us hope we see the good fruit of what our footwork and sweat equity accomplished.
Jennifer Oliver O'Connell, As the Girl Turns, is an investigative journalist, author, opinion analyst, and contributor to 1819 News, Redstate, and other publications. Jennifer writes on Politics and Pop Culture, with occasional detours into Reinvention, Yoga, and Food. You can read more about Jennifer's world at her As the Girl Turns website. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Telegram.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819news.com.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
