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.
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.
Tuesday, Convergence-supported candidates Suhas Subramanyam and Martha Mugler won commanding victories in their contested primaries for Virginia House of Delegates. Our IE mail helped support the candidates’ existing message and amplify their voices in a cluttered environment.
GOTV mail for Suhas and Martha
Special Election Notice
Additionally on Tuesday, Convergence’s ongoing partnership with the Maine House Caucus sealed another special election win for the Maine Democratic Party. This is the third win for Democrats in special elections this year, and the third time our special election alert program, which includes direct mail and digital, has helped get a victory. Congratulations to Rep-Elect Steve Moriarty and the Maine Democrats!
On Tuesday night, Maine House Democrats won their second special election in as many months, sending two new Democratic voices to Augusta from House districts 124 (Rep. Joe Perry) and 52 (Rep. Sean Paulhus).
Sample artwork from social pressure direct mail employed in House districts 124 and 52.
As part of our continued partnership with the Maine House Caucus Independent Expenditure, Convergence assisted in both of these special election victories, employing digital advertising and social-pressure-driven direct mail to help boost Democratic turnout and widen the Democrats’ margin of victory.
Last night, voters in Phoenix elected longtime Convergence client and friend Kate Gallego as their Mayor by a double digit margin. Phoenix becomes the largest city in America with a woman mayor.
Kate’s positive, vision-based message resonated with Phoenix voters, who turned out in record numbers and rejected a multi-million dollar IE and dark money campaign on behalf of her opponent. As of noon local time, Kate’s margin is 59-41 with more than 75% of the vote reporting.
As the direct mail consultants on this campaign, Convergence employed variable data and household-level targeting to give municipal voters all the information needed to make an informed choice in this election, and to activate new municipal voters who responded to Kate’s vision for Phoenix.
This result is especially gratifying because we have been on every one of Kate’s campaigns since her first run for City Council in 2013. It was an honor to be a part of Team Kate, and we’re excited to see Phoenix’s future under her leadership.
Convergence clients were big winners in a night that was filled with lots to celebrate. All in all, it was a great election for the cause of political reform, which is one of our guiding lights here at Convergence.
We’re very proud of the work we did for our clients alongside some great consultants and managers. That work included:
Helping Beverly Powell flip one of the two Texas State Senate seats that changed hands, reclaiming Wendy Davis’ old seat for the Democrats
Helping elect Greg Stanton to Congress (AZ-09), outperforming the previous incumbent’s 2016 margin of victory and getting 60% of the vote against a candidate who benefited from $1M+ of outside spending
Working with our longtime friend and client Kate Gallego, who will take an 18-point lead into a March runoff election for Phoenix, AZ Mayor
Working with the Maine House Democratic Caucus IE to flip five seats from Republican to Democratic control, expanding the Democratic margin in the State House
Helping elect Steuart Pittman as County Executive and Anne Colt Leitess asState’s Attorney in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, unseating two Republican incumbents who won their 2014 elections by double digits, even as Republican Gov. Larry Hogan won the county by a 70-30 margin
As we set our sights to 2020, the team at Convergence is ready to continue putting in the work to ensure that our country works for everyone.
