2024 STRATEGY | FEN-PAC

How a Federal Jobs Guarantee Can Help Democrats Win in 2024

5-step guide on how a Federal Jobs Guarantee can unite working and low-income voters of all races to help Democrats win in 2024

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1. What is a Federal Jobs Guarantee?

Even in today’s economy with a low unemployment rate of 3.7%, nearly half of American families are either poor or low-wealth and struggling to afford the basic necessities of life. Plus, the official unemployment rate does not account for the more than 4 million Americans who are working part-time but can not find full-time jobs.

A Federal Jobs Guarantee is a government policy that would provide a job for any adult who is unable to find full-time work. All jobs created under this program will pay a living wage plus health care coverage, paid family, and sick leave. The government would create jobs by investing in health care, education, infrastructure, climate change solutions, and other socially useful goods and services.

By reducing the fear of unemployment, a Federal Jobs Guarantee will also increase the bargaining power of all working people from the bottom up to gain higher wages and better working conditions at a time when workers and unions are standing up across the country.

2. A Majority of Voters in Battleground and Red States Support a

Federal Jobs Guarantee

Polls show strong support for a Federal Jobs Guarantee across political party voters: 89% of Democrats, 74% of Republicans, and 72% of independents. Even in red states like Florida, Texas, and Ohio, 70% of voters support a Federal Jobs guarantee. The data below presents a critical opportunity to unite White, Black, Latino, and Asian working-class voters around a Federal Jobs Guarantee in key battleground and red states.

Voter Support in Key Battleground and Red States:

Alabama: 70%
Arizona: 67%
Florida: 70%
Georgia: 71%
Kentucky: 68%

Michigan: 69%
Missouri: 69%
North Carolina: 72%
Nevada: 67%
Ohio: 68%

Pennsylvania: 68%
Tennessee: 69%
Texas: 70%
Wisconsin: 68%

Sources:

Poll: 79 percent support federal jobs program for the unemployed. The Hill. July 10, 2020
Why Democrats Should Embrace a Federal Jobs Guarantee. The Nation. March 20, 2018

3. A Federal Job Guarantee Can Increase Turnout Among Low-income Voters

Low-income voters with a household income of less than $50,000 make up 40% of the U.S. voting population but vote at a lower rate than middle and high-income voters. Low-income voters of all races, often feel neglected by both political parties and are more likely to believe that voting will not directly benefit their lives.

Increasing turnout among low-income voters can help Democrats win in red states and key battleground states. For instance, in Texas, in 2020, nearly 4,000,000 low-income voters did not vote while Donald Trump won the state by 630,000 votes. If low-income voters increase their statewide turnout for Democratic candidates by just 8% then Democrats can win Texas in 2024.

Promoting a Federal Jobs Guarantee can empower low-income voters to turn out in higher numbers by making them feel that voting can directly benefit their day-to-day lives and will send a loud and clear message that Democrats are on their side!

Source:

Waking the Sleeping Giant: Poor and Low-Income Voters in the 2020 Elections: Poor People's Campaign. October, 2021

4. 'Deep Canvassing' Around a Federal Jobs Guarantee Can Unite White, Black, Latino, and Asian Voters

To unite White, Black, Latino, and Asian voters around a Federal Jobs Guarantee, we must go door-to-door in key battleground and red states to have authentic conversations with working-class and low-income voters. In these conversations, we must listen with empathy to understand the individual financial struggles affecting voters and share information on how a Federal Jobs Guarantee can improve their lives and communities. This type of voter outreach is known as ‘Deep Canvassing.’

Unlike traditional canvassing that relies on scripted one-way messaging, Deep Canvassing emphasizes empathy, genuine conversation, and building long-term relationships with voters. Studies have shown that Deep Canvassing reaches people on a deeply emotional level and can shift deep-seated attitudes and prejudices in a way that can break down racial and partisan divides.

Deep Canvassing combined with a vision of a Federal Jobs Guarantee can unite voters across race, political views, and geography.

Source: Deep Canvass Institute

5. Donate to Unite Working People Around a Federal Jobs Guarantee!

Chip in $25 to unite working and low-income people of all races around a Federal Jobs Guarantee. Your donation will help FEN-PAC hire and train grassroots organizers to go door-to-door in key battleground and key red states to have deep canvassing conversations with working and low-income voters about a Federal Jobs Guarantee.

To effectively influence Democrats to publicly support a Federal Jobs Guarantee. We must come together as grassroots donors and show Democrats that we can win elections in key battleground and red states by uniting working and low-income voters of all races around a Federal Jobs Guarantee.

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ABOUT FEN-PAC

Full Employment Now-Political Action Committee (FEN-PAC) is a small-dollar donor-funded super PAC. Unlike traditional super PACs, we rely on small-dollar donations (less than $200) instead of wealthy donors and institutions. As a super PAC, we do not give money directly to candidates or political parties. All funds are directed toward voter education, mobilization, and advocacy around a Federal Jobs Guarantee.