Dear Pantsuit Politics: Where Should I Put My Time and Money This Election Year?

The midterms are high stakes and your participation matters.

We get a lot of great listener mail, but Bethany is asking the question I know so many of you are struggling with.

Here’s what she asked:

I am a Democrat in San Antonio, Texas — specifically TX-23, currently represented by the suddenly infamous Tony Gonzalez. I have never volunteered for a political campaign. I have donated occasionally. But the stakes are so high in this moment. So as I think about “What is my work to do?” — where do I put my limited time and money this year? Toward supporting Katy Padilla Stout, the mostly unknown Democrat running for TX-23? Or toward James Talarico’s Senate campaign? Who is going to have more impact in the long run if they win? What’s really the most effective thing to do in a campaign? Is volunteering more beneficial than getting back on Facebook and posting about these candidates? Are monthly donations more beneficial than occasional “we’re facing a deadline” donations?

Bethany, I love this question, and I want to give you an honest answer: it depends — and the only way to find out is to reach out and ask.

I know that might feel unsatisfying, but nuanced answers always are!

Every campaign is different. Some are well-organized, have a volunteer coordinator who will put you to work immediately, and have a clear answer for exactly what they need most. Others are scrappy and still figuring it out. The best thing you can do — whether you’re drawn to Katy Padilla Stout’s race or James Talarico’s — is contact both campaigns directly and ask: What do you need most right now? Their answer will tell you a lot, both about where your effort will have the most impact and about how prepared they are to actually use you well.

On the question of where your dollars go furthest: monthly donations are genuinely more valuable to campaigns than one-time gifts, even if the total amount is the same. It’s not just a fundraising talking point — recurring revenue lets campaigns plan and hire and spend strategically rather than scrambling from deadline to deadline. If you can commit to even a small monthly amount, that is worth more than a bigger check you write in October.

As to volunteering versus social media: volunteering wins. Posting on Facebook feels like doing something, and it can matter at the margins, but the research on what actually moves voters keeps coming back to real human contact — door-knocking, phone banking, and conversations. It’s harder, sure. But it’s also SO rewarding. I always tell people door-knocking has the essential components of mental health: getting outside, moving your body, and connecting with other people!

As for which race — I’m not going to tell you where to put your energy because I genuinely think that’s yours to decide, and it may come down to which campaign actually has the infrastructure to use a first-time volunteer well.

You asked what your work is to do, and - guess what? - By asking this question, you’re already doing it! Now, go reach out and take the next step.

We’re rooting for you.