Welcome to GOTV Weekend
June 19th 2026
GOTV stands for “Get out the Vote.” Campaigns happen in phases, but the final phase is always a push to get your supporters out to the polls.
If you’ve volunteered, donated, knocked doors, made calls, hosted events, shared posts, put up lawn signs, talked to neighbors, or simply followed along with our campaign, thank you. We made it to the final stretch. If you are interested in volunteering this final weekend, use this link and show up to a canvass shift this weekend!
This stage of a campaign always feels different. The work becomes more urgent, the days feel shorter, and every interaction suddenly feels more important. It becomes easy to convince yourself that one endorsement, one social media post, or one conversation will decide everything. But over the years, I’ve learned campaigns usually don’t work that way.
Last fall, in 2025, I sent an email to a group of candidates across Upstate New York that I had supported throughout their campaigns. Some I supported as a board member of the Upstate Progressive PAC. Some I supported as a friend. Some I supported because, as a County Legislator, I knew what it felt like to serve in the minority caucus and hated that powerless feeling.
Many of the campaigns were entering the final days before voting began. We had already spent months raising money, recruiting volunteers, knocking doors, attending events, and building relationships with voters. We were entering the GOTV phase of their campaigns, and I wanted to share a few reminders that I thought might help them navigate those final days.
The line from that email I always hope sticks is: “It’s hard to win a campaign during GOTV, but easy to lose one.”
What it means and what I still believe now, is that by the time voting begins, most campaigns already know whether they have done enough to be competitive. The foundation has already been built. The voters have largely formed impressions. The relationships have already been developed. The challenge of GOTV is not becoming a different campaign at the last minute. The challenge is making sure all of the work that has already been done actually turns into votes.
That means continuing to ask for support. It means making voting easy and clear. It means thanking volunteers, following up with supporters, focusing on turnout instead of theory, and staying disciplined even when emotions are high. Campaigns can lose focus in the final days. They can assume supporters will turn out automatically or spend energy chasing things that no longer move votes. The final stretch is usually less about reinvention and more about execution.
That advice feels relevant to me right now,.
I re-read the email for myself as now I’m the candidate in the competitive election nervous about election day. Our campaign has been powered by volunteers, supporters, neighbors, donors, friends, and people who believe Central New York deserves another choice. We’ve knocked doors, had difficult conversations, built relationships, and continue showing up over and over again. Now our job is simple: make sure every supporter hears from us one more time, and has a plan to vote.
If you’ve already helped, thank you. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to jump in, welcome. This is GOTV weekend. And because I’ve been thinking about that message a lot lately, I figured I’d share it here.
Here’s the full email, if you’re interested:
“Friend, You are receiving this email because your candidacy is important to me.
I believe in the work you are doing and in the difference your campaign can make. I am working with over a dozen campaigns across upstate NY, and each one of you are in position to win your race, and dramatically change your community for the better. We have reached the home stretch, and with early voting beginning Saturday, I wanted to share a few thoughts and reminders as you head into the GOTV phase of the campaign.
I am on record saying " It's hard to win a campaign during GOTV, but easy to lose one." If a campaign hasn't done enough work to get to this point, it's hard to make up that ground over this time period; however, a good campaign can take it's foot off the gas and lose one by skipping over the small things. I feel confident this campaign has more to lose given the amount of work that's gone into the campaign so far. You have done an incredible amount of work to get here. You have knocked doors, made calls, raised funds, and stayed focused through a long, chaotic campaign season. I am proud of what you have accomplished, and I know you are giving it everything you have.
Here are 11 quick tips to get you through Election Day:
1. Stay calm, stay steady: Anxiety rises as voting begins, but voters & supporters feed off your tone. Confidence is contagious.
2. Re-engage your best supporters: Ask volunteers, endorsers, and donors to do one more thing, one more shift, one more post, one more text. They will often say yes.
3. Make it easy to help: When you ask someone to help or vote, give them a direct next step: a link, address, or clear instruction. Don’t assume they will figure it out.
4. Focus on persuasion you can still win: You are not going to change everyone’s mind this week. Prioritize time with the people who are reachable.
5. Talk turnout, not theory: The next few days are about getting votes, not winning arguments. Keep the message simple, why you are running and why it matters right now.
6. Control your inputs: Minimize scrolling. Don’t read every comment. Protect your mindset and energy.
7. *Show gratitude publicly: A thank-you post, a quick call to a volunteer, or a note to supporters goes a long way. It builds momentum and morale. If you have been using Actblue, you can get the emails of everyone who's donated, even a bcc email to that list will go a long way.
8. Remind people to plan their vote: Ask when and where they are voting. Turning intention into a plan increases turnout dramatically.
9. Handle problems quickly, not emotionally: Whether it’s a sign vandalized or a social media rumor, respond briefly, fix it, and move on.
10. End every conversation with an ask: Every voter, every volunteer, every contact. A direct call to action is how you win the margins. (ie. It was good talking to you, can I count on your vote? Can I count on a donation? Can I count on you to make a post about my campaign? Can I count on you to take a picture with my lawn sign, and post it? Etc.
11. Take care of your body and your people: Exhaustion makes small problems feel big. Rest, hydrate, eat, and check in on your team. Petitioning was in March, it's October. You've made it so far, but burnout is real. Sprinting through the finish line is ideal, but ensuring we make it through the finish line is more important.
These last days are about execution, not reinvention. Trust your preparation, trust your people, and trust that your message is resonating. If anything comes up, or if there is a situation where you think I could be helpful, please reach out. I am here and happy to help however I can. You have done the work. Now make sure every supporter, voter, everybody hears from you one more time! Let’s finish strong! In solidarity, Maurice Brown He, Him, His"
Has DoorDash spent money to influence elections before?
Yes, Reporting in 2025 found DoorDash contributed $1 million to a super PAC supporting Andrew Cuomo’s mayoral campaign in New York City. DoorDash publicly described its political involvement as connected to policy and economic concerns affecting its business and workers
Why do labor advocates criticize DoorDash’s political involvement?
Labor advocates argue that DoorDash and similar companies have used political spending to influence debates over worker protections, labor standards, and how app-based workers are classified. Critics believe these efforts can prioritize corporate flexibility over stronger worker protections
Does Bill Magnarelli support Doordash’s spending in the Race?
DoorDash told syracuse.com that Magnarelli’s record aligns with the company’s national push for government policy reforms.
Is Maurice Brown saying businesses should not participate in politics?
No. Businesses participate in public debate like many organizations do. Maurice believes elected officials should remain accountable first and foremost to residents.