Texas Nationalist Movement Executive Vice President Nate Smith and Chief of Staff Daphne Armour attended the Texas Winning Campaigns training presented by the Leadership Institute in Montgomery County on September 12. The comprehensive training program was led by former Republican Party of Texas Vice Chair Cat Parks and political consultant Justin Farrell of Farrell Gjesdal Strategy Group.
The training proved valuable for enhancing TNM’s political knowledge and provided key concepts that will be incorporated into the Texas Arise campaign volunteering workshop. The emphasis throughout the session focused on understanding the fundamental factors for success and establishing clear campaign goals as critical elements for victory.
Target Numbers Drive Strategy
One of the most significant takeaways centered on campaigns determining a target vote number and using that figure as the foundation for all campaign strategies. This data-driven approach represents a shift from traditional campaigning methods and provides a concrete framework for measuring progress and allocating resources effectively.
The training also emphasized that campaigns should establish goals and develop strategies at the precinct level—a grassroots approach that aligns perfectly with TNM’s community-focused methodology for building the independence movement across Texas.
Fundraising Challenges Hit Grassroots Hard
Fundraising emerged as a critical discussion topic during the training. There is a significant shortage of professional fundraisers available for Texas races, and this shortage particularly impacts grassroots campaigns. Incumbent campaigns typically have most experienced fundraisers locked into contracts, leaving challengers and grassroots movements to develop alternative approaches.
The training identified several major keys to fundraising success, including the importance of direct phone calls and personal visits, making clear and specific asks for contributions, and ensuring that candidates spend a substantial portion of their time personally engaging with donors. This reality makes it even more crucial that campaign volunteers are available and trained to handle other essential campaign functions, freeing candidates to focus on fundraising activities.
Ground Game Remains King
Despite the digital age, the training reinforced that ground game continues to be a decisive factor in campaign success. The strongest connections and the greatest ability to persuade voters to switch from one candidate to another still occurs through face-to-face conversations with voters.
The optimal timing for door-to-door campaigning was identified as the 90-day period prior to election day. Additionally, house parties are gaining renewed emphasis as an effective campaign tool, where hosts invite friends and neighbors to meet and interact with candidates in their homes—creating a more personal and intimate setting for political engagement.
Early Voting Decides Elections
Perhaps the most striking revelation from the training was the critical importance of early voting turnout. A majority of campaigns are now being decided during the early voting period, making it essential for successful campaigns to maximize their early voting performance rather than relying solely on election day turnout.
Training Essential for Grassroots Success
The knowledge and motivation provided through training programs like this one are crucial for encouraging Texans to become actively involved in the campaign process. As Executive Vice President Nate Smith noted, “You can’t elect grassroots candidates to office, if you don’t have grassroots actively working on their campaigns.”
This training represents TNM’s continued commitment to professional development and strategic thinking as the organization prepares for the challenges ahead. The skills and strategies learned will be incorporated into TNM’s ongoing efforts to build the infrastructure necessary for advancing Texas independence through the political process.
The investment in political education demonstrates TNM’s understanding that achieving independence requires not only passion and conviction but also professional competence in the practical mechanics of campaigns and elections. With organizations like TNM providing this type of crucial training and knowledge transfer, Texans will be better equipped to participate effectively in the political process at every level.
