About Us

For all inquiries, please email contact@whereitsneeded.org.

OUR MISSION:

Where It’s Needed (WIN PAC) connects grassroots donors to state and local campaigns and community-based organizations in swing states to make the maximum impact on the 2020 elections.

We're strong believers in the "reverse coattails effect": By funding strong down-ballot campaigns led by candidates who know their communities best, we can mobilize additional voters for the Senate and Presidential campaigns at the top of the ticket.

WIN PAC has identified key state legislative campaigns and voter mobilization organizations where donors can change the game this election year. It was started by Democratic strategist Doug Foote in 2020.

Our work supports:

• Candidates running in competitive state legislative districts. Supporting state legislative candidates in swing states won’t just help flip statehouses and end gerrymandering -- it will also add votes to the statewide total to help defeat Trump and flip the Senate.

• Voter mobilization organizations in 2020 swing states. We support effective, culturally-competent organizations to mobilize voters in marginalized communities too frequently overlooked by Democratic campaigns.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

We know that when the GOP has control of state legislatures, our communities suffer. There are currently 61 state legislative chambers under GOP control. In states where Republicans control all the levers of power, they have passed laws to bust unions, give tax cuts to corporations, impose voting restrictions, and pass anti-choice laws.

WIN PAC can change that. Because state legislative races are often won and lost by a handful of votes, investing in them can mean big electoral victories. And despite record-breaking fundraising by Democratic presidential candidates, Republicans continue to outraise Democrats 2-to-1 in state legislative races.

Here's how we'll flip that. WIN PAC is targeting 40 state races in Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Each of these states' chambers can be flipped Democratic by winning less than 10 seats. We know that investing in state legislatures can mean big wins -- Virginia's Democratic majority passed laws protecting LGBTQ+ people from discrimination, making voting more accessible, putting limits on the cost of life-saving insulin, and more. With support from donors like you, WIN PAC can fund the smaller races that will help us elect leaders who can implement real change. In addition, WIN PAC will help fund voter mobilization organization like Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT) and Voces de la Frontera in Wisconsin, Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), and New Florida Majority -- all of which operate year-round in communities too-often overlooked by traditional Democratic campaigns.

WHAT WE OFFER

WIN PAC acts as a reliable, transparent source of information for grassroots donors to use their dollars effectively. We use email and social media to direct donors to vetted partner organizations and state legislative campaigns.

We direct grassroots funds where they are needed both through tandem ActBlue forms and direct PAC donations. As of August 2020, we have already raised $40,000 for candidates and causes.

If you have questions, please contact us at contact@whereitsneeded.org.

Meet the Team

Doug Foote

Founder & Executive Director

Doug (he/him) is digital strategist with over a decade of experience organizing online for progressive candidates and causes. As Digital Strategy Director at Veracity Media, Doug raised over $1 million over email and helped win resounding victories for Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) and NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. He has trained staff in digital organizing at Hillary for America, AFL-CIO, and CWA.
Elizabeth Bennett

Advisor

Elizabeth (she/her) serves as the Vice Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia. She was elected in 2018, becoming the 12th woman and the youngest woman ever to serve on the Council in the city's 270-year history. She has been working to make public service more accessible and to build on the collective power of female elected officials. She is also a NewDEAL Leader.
Sammi Brown

Advisor

Sammi (she/her)serves as Delegate of the 65th House District of West Virginia. She was elected in 2018 in what was the largest comeback in state history. Brown is the President of the Eastern Panhandle Labor Council, through which she played a supporting role in the West Virginia Teacher’s Strike. She has been recognized as a lawmaker to watch by a number of progressive organizations, such as Run for Something and VoteRunLead.
Abigail Collazo

Advisor

Abigail Collazo (she/her) is a seasoned Democratic political operative and strategic communications professional with more than 15 years’ experience in the field. She has worked on dozens of political campaigns across the country, including President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign in 2012, Stacey Abrams for Governor in 2018, and Sarah Riggs Amico for U.S. Senate in 2020. She is based in Atlanta, GA, and currently advises campaigns and initiatives on strategic communications and digital organizing.
Emily Halevy

Advisor

Emily (she/her) is a sales executive, former candidate for elected office, and advocate for housing justice and women's rights. She is the founder of the Coalition for a Diverse DeKalb, an advocacy organization ensuring affordable housing is available to people of low, moderate, and fixed incomes. Earlier in 2020, Emily ran for DeKalb County Commission.
Christina Hartman

Advisor

Christina (she/her) is an executive leader, former candidate for elected office, and global advocate for democracy, fair elections, and women’s rights. She has worked as a leader at non-profits for more than 20 years in more than 15 countries around the globe. In 2016 and 2018, Christina ran for U.S. Congress in Pennsylvania’s former 16th district. In 2019-2020, she ran for Pennsylvania Auditor General.
Bren Pantilione

Advisor

Bren (they/them) is the Director of Election Protection Arizona, a non-partisan voter protection coalition. In 2018, Bren was the Field Director for the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (ADLCC) where Democrats gained 4 State House seats leading to the largest delegation since 1966. Prior to that, they pioneered the use of deep canvassing to change public opinion on transgender equality in Florida.

OUR MISSION:

WHAT'S AT STAKE

WHAT WE OFFER

Doug Foote

Founder & Executive Director

Elizabeth Bennett

Advisor

Sammi Brown

Advisor

Abigail Collazo

Advisor

Emily Halevy

Advisor

Christina Hartman

Advisor

Bren Pantilione

Advisor