this take has a lot of good points, but they're missing the underlying story once again, like most other media outlets: organizing is absolutely crucial. in GA, organizers put in the hard work. in NC, it wasn't to the same extent. organizing is why GA will trend blue long term.

one anecdote that i want everyone on this hellsite to read:
I organized in Durham County, which went bluer than 2016 and voted for Biden by a 62 pt margin.
I heard tales of organizing in Wake County being piss poor. Like, just not putting the necessary work in.
I didn't really comprehend at the time that this was a bad omen. I still thought we were going to win. But Wake County organizers were asking *us* in DurCo to come down and drive ppl to polls on Election Day. Not good.
I'm saying this with a lot of conviction: the central failure of North Carolina Dems in 2020 was organizing. We weren't allowed to do door-to-door canvassing while GOP did so. D2D is a crucial tool in organizing and we essentially gave it up for the GOP to take.
While we were stuck on Zoom and textbanking and phone calls, GOP organizers were going door to door, masked up and distanced, and were able to get a message out. We did not do that, and as such, our turnout was less than we needed.
Some statistics: in Wake County, November turnout was up 4.5 points (from 75.35% in 2016 to 79.85), while the state average turnout increase was 6 points (68.98% to 75.35%). we did not bank as many votes as we needed to. that's the real story.
oof. i was referring to *statewide* turnout increase and did not mean to say "state average turnout increase".
@lxeagle17 @EScrimshaw @umichvoter99
appendix for extra context: in Durham County, 2016-2020 turnout increase was 6.3 pts, basically the same as the 6.37 pt statewide turnout increase. Wake County was below average. GOP vote bank Union County increased turnout by nearly 8 points (!!!).
finally, i just want to say that I'm hopeful for NC in 2022. Midterms have more college educated electorates, and NC is no exception. COVID affected us negatively, and by 2022 we'll be able to safely organize effectively.
But we have to start trusting local organizers and communities again. Stop hiring DC consultants and listen to the local pulse. There's a Stacey Abrams in North Carolina, we just need to find and fund her. https://t.co/LyvRBMlWdr
tagging more ppl bc uhhh pls read @NilesGApol @Eggymceggerson3 @NCPoliticalMeme

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