The vote totals have been finalized and we’re excited to report that Mark Conway has defeated his nine opponents and won his primary for Baltimore City Council District 4! Convergence was proud to be part of this effort, offering strategic guidance as we shifted tactics in response COVID-19 and direct mail.
Convergence was able to capitalize on late money and a late-breaking endorsement from the Baltimore Sun and had a piece of mail in the hands of voters focused on the endorsement within three days of publication. We’re confident our ability to communicate that endorsement quickly and effectively is what ultimately tipped the scales in Mark’s favor in this close contest.
Last night, Kylon Middleton emerged victorious in a hotly competitive primary for Charleston, SC County Council. Kylon, the pastor of historic Mt. Zion AME Church with a diverse coalition of supporters across the county, connected with voters by sharing his vision for Charleston and its need for strong, moral leadership guiding council decisions.
Convergence devised and executed a multi-media paid communications plan that included mail, digital and radio. Our expanded communications plan paid off, as turnout was almost double the previous primary in this district, and Kylon won the election by 238 votes. We’re looking forward to continuing to work with Kylon in the General Election in November!
Last night, two longtime Convergence clients — Mayor David Meyer and Councilperson So Lim —won their re-election bids in Fairfax City, VA. The election was rescheduled from its original date and took place predominantly by mail, a first for the City of Fairfax. Convergence worked with our clients to adjust the timing and content of direct mail, and employ digital advertising in the case of Mayor Meyer, to help our clients retain their seats.
Congratulations to Mayor Meyer and Councilperson Lim — we’re glad to know they’re at the helm, helping the City of Fairfax reopen and recover safely.
Convergence’s exceptional work in Phoenix, AZ continues to be recognized by our peers. We were awarded two Gold Pollies for our work last year on the No on Propositions 105 & 106 campaign, including Best Direct Mail Campaign- Ballot Initiative. Our strong creative concepts, outstanding use of targeting, and innovative tactics propelled this campaign to victory last August, and we’re proud that this work has been recognized at both the Reed Awards and the Pollie Awards this year.
Gold Pollie winner “A Radical Experiment”, a part of the award-winning NO on Propositions 105 and 106 ballot measure campaign
We were also awarded a Silver Pollie for our work with our friends at Unite America to elect Suhas Subramanyan to the Virginia State House. This piece, designed to stand out in a crowded environment with its vintage throw-back design, was a piece of the puzzle that allowed Suhas to emerge victorious from a crowded primary in a safely blue seat.
Silver Pollie winner “Suhas GOTV”
Convergence has won awards for our municipal work every year since 2016. We’re honored that our peers continue to value our work in this area, and we’re looking forward to keeping the streak alive next year!
Our Wins- Pollie Awards
Gold Pollie Direct Mail Campaign — Ballot Initiative:No on Propositions 105 & 106 Best Use of Negative or Contrast — Ballot Initiative: “A Radical Experiment”
Silver Pollie Independent Expenditure Campaign — State Legislature:“Suhas GOTV”
At Thursday night’s Reed Awards in Atlanta, Convergence was proud not only of the four awards we won, but of what it says about our clients and our company’s mission. First, we won an award for our municipal mail for the fifth straight year, taking home a trophy for a large-format map showcasing Charleston, SC Mayor John Tecklenburg’s accomplishments across the city. Read some local coverage of this mail piece, and our award, at the Charleston Post and Courier.
The interior of our direct mail piece on behalf of Charleston, SC Mayor John Tecklenburg.
We were also awarded for best cross-platform campaign for our work with Mayor Tecklenburg. True to our firm’s name, we brought together direct mail and digital strategies and executed both, pursuing the same message and the same voters across multiple media, as part of a successful re-election effort.
Finally, we were award for most innovative tactic in direct mail for our work in Phoenix, Arizona, where we sent more than 250 different full-color versions of a piece of mail highlighting local opposition and local impact of a pair of ballot initatives that we helped defeat last August.
The cover of our localized direct mail piece highlighting the consequences of two ballot initiatives in Phoenix, AZ.
An outstanding record of municipal campaigns; a convergence of traditional direct mail and digital advertising; a relentless pursuit of innovative new tactical and strategic approaches. Those are three pillars of our mission, and we’re pleased to have been awarded by our peers for it.
As an added treat, our mail for Mayor Tecklenburg was also awarded “Best of the Best” by the political mail team at the US Postal Service. Each year, their team reviews every submission to the Reed Awards and chooses a single entrant from across all categories that they feel is the best direct mail piece submitted. We’re proud to say that our work was chosen for this honor.
Our Wins — Reed Awards Best Mail Piece for Mayoral – Non-partisan: Re-Elect Mayor John Tecklenburg, “Map” Best Cross Channel Ad Campaign: Re-Elect Mayor John Tecklenburg Innovation In Direct Mail: No On 105 and 106, “Local Impact”
US Postal Service “Best Of The Best” Re-Elect Mayor John Tecklenburg, “Map”
Yesterday in Charleston’s runoff mayoral election, voters re-elected Mayor John Tecklenburg in a landslide 21-point victory. This was Convergence’s second campaign with John Tecklenburg, who will begin his second term as Mayor in January.
In the primary, Mayor Tecklenburg faced five challengers and led the field with 48% of the vote. Convergence communicated the Mayor’s accomplishments early and often. Through the mail, in print and in digital ads, we amplified Mayor Tecklenburg’s results on key issues such as flooding, development, and traffic.
Tecklenburg “Results Map” employed by Convergence in large-format direct mail and online.
To make our content especially relevant, we employed a series of maps and variable data so that readers can see where, exactly, Mayor Tecklenburg was making progress in their individual neighborhoods. We echoed this message through digital video targeted to an expanded universe, further articulating our case that re-electing Mayor Tecklenburg meant continuing progress for Charleston.
One of the many voter guide tables used by Convergence during the runoff.
In the two-week runoff, Convergence delivered six mail pieces, as well as print and digital ads, highlighting the key differences between Mayor Tecklenburg and his opponent and making clear that re-electing the Mayor was the best choice for Charleston. On election day, voters overwhelmingly agreed, delivering a 61-39 victory for Tecklenburg.
Convergence founder and President Chris Cooper is a native Charlestonian. He, and the rest of the team, are proud to have been a part of Mayor Tecklenburg’s re-election campaign.
Last night, New York City voters overwhelmingly approved Ballot Question 1, which among other things, would implement Ranked Choice Voting for all New York City elections.
With over ten million NYC voters, this victory will double the amount of voters nationwide using Ranked Choice Voting and help NYC manage the estimated 500 candidates who will be seeking office in the 2021 city elections.
We are proud to continue our partnership with voting rights activists in the Ranked Choice Voting community, and look forward to future victories together.
Big win for a young challenger in Charleston
GOTV digital ad featuring future first dogs Quito-Wayne and Stono
Ross Appel, a first time candidate, toppled an entrenched incumbent Charleston City Councilmember in a landslide victory. CTC was the driving force behind the paid communications efforts, working to merge direct mail and digital campaigns to a rapidly changing electorate. We’re proud of Ross and look forward to hearing his voice on the Council!
At the end of last week, family law attorney and nonprofit leader Jonathan Melton was elected to the Raleigh City Council after a five-way race for two seats. Convergence was proud to be a part of this winning effort, working alongside the Melton campaign team and serving as the primary method of voter communication, producing direct mail and digital advertising focused on our campaign’s message: coming from a place of “yes” in a city that faces incredible opportunities and challenges as it grows, ensuring that growth is sustainable and equitable.
Our digital campaign included short- and medium-form video advertisements, including direct-to-camera appeals from the candidate and small ‘news features’ focused on our endorsements. In the mail, we presented our campaign’s message and endorsements using a modern, distinctly future-oriented design approach that helped reinforce our candidate’s message of change and embracing the future.
Congratulations to Councilor-Elect Melton and his entire campaign team!
Soon after Mayor Kate Gallego’s victory in March, Convergence got right back to work in Phoenix — this time to stop two, dark money-funded ballot propositions.
Prop 105 & 106 would have ended services thousands of Phoenix residents rely on.
Propositions 105 and 106 were two poorly worded ballot questions that aimed to halt Phoenix light rail and force drastic cuts to public services. Convergence implemented a mail plan that clarified what the passage of Props 105 and 106 would mean for voters, and how they would negatively affect their neighborhoods. Convergence utilized innovative data techniques to target voters and deliver mail that was specific to them, highlighting how these propositions would impact their local library, community pool, or light rail station.
Convergence used innovative data techniques to target voters by neighborhood.
Voters subsequently came out on in huge numbers to vote “No” and stop the coordinated attack on their neighborhoods. As of Tuesday, 169,525 ballots were cast — 45,000 more than the last time Phoenix Light Rail was on the ballot — and over 60% voted against Props 105 and 106. And ballots are still being counted!
Convergence is proud to have played a role in defending Phoenix communities and helping to keep America’s fifth-largest city great.
Last night, Kansas City voters came out in large numbers to elect local attorney, city councilman and Convergence client Quinton Lucas as their next Mayor. At the age of 34, Quinton will be the youngest Mayor of Kansas City in over a century.
Our piece during the primary that highlighted Quinton’s unique policies and vision.
Quinton is a native of Kansas City’s East Side, and experienced poverty and homelessness as a child growing up in the city. He’s used to overcoming the odds — and this race for Mayor was no different. As a young, first-term city councilman with big ideas, Quinton was an unlikely candidate in a crowded Mayoral field. But Quinton’s energy, and his emphasis on improving basic city services for all, stood out and led to a one-on-one runoff election between himself and the establishment-backed candidate. Once an underdog, Quinton came out on top on election day with 59% of the vote.
Our piece during the runoff that highlighted Quinton’s local endorsements and community support.
From the beginning, Convergence worked to provide a strategic vision and mail plan that allowed Quinton’s unique platform to stand out among the other 10 candidates for Mayor. Through the use of unique mail formats, Convergence allowed voters to compare Quinton with the other candidates, and ultimately show them that he was the best candidate with the best ideas. During the runoff, Convergence helped sustain Quinton’s momentum and grow his base by delivering positive mail that highlighted Quinton’s unique vision for the city.
It was an honor to be a part of Team Quinton and his historic run for Mayor. We’re excited to see Kansas City’s future under his leadership.
