Democratic groups target 'non-political spaces' in new campaign ahead of fall elections and 2026 midterms

WASHINGTON — Democratic groups are kicking off a new community organizing effort this summer, taking aim at Republican priorities and widening their scope to include "non-political spaces" like book clubs and sports forums

WASHINGTON — Democratic groups are kicking off a new community organizing effort this summer, taking aim at Republican priorities and widening their scope to include "non-political spaces" like book clubs and sports forums.

The nationwide effort announced Monday comes as Democrats prepare for key battleground elections in the fall and next year and as they search for a viable electoral path forward after losing the presidency, House and Senate in November.

Some constituencies that typically cast ballots for Democrats — including Hispanics and young people — shifted to the right, prompting a reckoning over how the party can adapt its messaging and priorities to win back those groups and expand its base.

Democrats plan to focus part of their efforts on "equipping volunteers to authentically enter conversation in non-political spaces," including in "sports forums, community groups, book clubs, and on social media platforms," according to a news release announcing the push. Democrats will also host voter registration events and provide a "direct pathway" for supporters to share feedback from voters, according to the news release.

The push to harness "non-political spaces" comes amid broader dissatisfaction about American politics and the Democratic Party. Thirty-eight percent of adults feel like "neither party" fights for "people like you," according to an NBC News Stay Tuned poll conducted in April. One month earlier, the Democratic Party reached an all-time low in popularity, with just 27% of registered voters saying they have positive views of the party, according to an NBC News poll.