WASHINGTON – In a strategic move aimed at enhancing their influence in upcoming elections, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is set to allocate millions of dollars to take charge of voter registration efforts. Traditionally, these responsibilities have been managed by nonprofit advocacy groups and individual political campaigns. However, the DNC’s new approach seeks to fortify their position in this year’s midterm elections.

Announcing the initiative on Tuesday, the DNC revealed plans to kick off in Arizona and Nevada with an initial investment of at least $2 million dedicated to training organizers. This effort marks the beginning of what could be the DNC’s most extensive campaign to register new voters. The primary focus will be on engaging young individuals, voters of color, and those without college degrees—demographics that notably leaned away from Democrats in the last presidential election, which saw Republican Donald Trump secure the presidency.

“It’s a crisis. And for our party to actually win elections, we have to actually create more Democrats,” emphasized DNC Chair Ken Martin during an interview with The Associated Press.

Martin further highlighted the necessity for a collective effort, stating, “We need all hands on deck, not just the outside groups,” as the party strives to reclaim control of Congress and disrupt the Republicans’ consolidated power in Washington.

Historically, Democrats have depended on advocacy organizations and civic groups for voter registration, constrained by legal requirements to remain nonpartisan. In contrast, party leaders are now advocating for a more explicitly partisan strategy, akin to that employed by Republicans who have traditionally relied less on external groups for voter mobilization.

While acknowledging the crucial role of allied nonprofits, Martin praised these partners for their vital contributions, noting they have “done amazing work to actually get people engaging in their democracy.” This shift signifies a pivotal moment in the Democrats’ electoral strategy as they seek to broaden their voter base through direct party-led initiatives.

“But in this moment right now, given the significant disadvantage that we have and the advantage the Republicans have, we actually have to do more,” he said.

The DNC initiative aims to reach non-college-educated young voters by recruiting organizers from a wide array of backgrounds, like gig economy workers and young parents, who have often been overlooked in the party’s grassroots efforts. Democrats hope that organizers’ own perspectives and experiences will help party strategists learn how to connect with Americans in blue-collar roles who are disaffected with politics, whom the party fears it has lost touch with in recent elections.

“I think it’s incredible that Democrats are actually investing in reaching Democratic voters who have been left behind,” said Santiago Mayer, founder of Voters for Tomorrow, a progressive political youth group that is collaborating with the DNC. “We got killed on persuasion in 2024, and I think this is a really important step, fixing it and ensuring that we do not have a repeat of that in 2026.”

The program will kick off with dozens of videos from lawmakers, activists and party leaders across the country. Democrats hope to boost enthusiasm for the program through interstate party competitions throughout the year.

If successful, the investments will provide a foundation that Democrats can rely upon beyond the fall midterm elections.

“This is a critical piece of the infrastructure that we’re building to actually not only win the moment in ’26 but to win the future,” Martin said. “For us to put ourselves in a position to win in ’28 and ’30 and ’32, we actually have to keep doing this work and do it consistently.”