Purpose

This pledge effort exists to make something possible that has never happened in Connecticut: a real Democratic primary for Congress. At this stage, the goal is not to persuade voters on issues or ask for endorsements. The goal is to build the conditions for voter choice.

Because this phase is about access, capacity, and civic participation, volunteer recognition is designed around access, experience, and shared ownership, not merchandise, money, or transactional rewards.

How recognition works

Each volunteer receives a personal pledge link after signing up through our 1 Pledge Per Day volunteer sign up page. Pledge activity through those links allows us to understand what outreach works and to recognize volunteer contributions. The leaderboard is internal. Public reporting shows only aggregate pledge counts and a district-wide participation map. Participation is always voluntary.

The competition begins immediately.

Competition timeline

The pledge drive is organized into three competition periods, followed by an overall recognition phase tied to ballot qualification.

Period One: January 19 – February 15
Period Two: February 16 – March 15
Period Three: March 16 – April 19

The period from April 19 to April 28 is reserved for finalizing petition plans and preparing for ballot qualification.

Weekly recognition

Throughout all three periods, weekly recognition focuses on momentum and personal connection. Each week, volunteers who are actively helping grow the pledge may receive a public thank-you shoutout in the volunteer email and a personal invitation to coffee or tea with Damjan. Weekly recognition may also include early access to messaging drafts, upcoming plans, or invitations to sit in on strategy discussions. Weekly recognition is meant to be immediate, relational, and human.

Monthly recognition

At the end of each competition period, deeper recognition is offered. The top four pledge gatherers in each period will be invited to a small-group dinner with Damjan during the following weeks. These dinners are informal working conversations intended to thank contributors, hear what they are seeing, and discuss where the effort should go next.

• Period One dinner takes place the week of February 16

• Period Two dinner takes place the week of March 16

• Period Three dinner takes place the week of April 28 (the week of April 20 is skipped due to school spring break)

Participation recognition

Anyone who helps secure at least four pledge sign-ups will be invited to a celebration gathering once we confirm that the campaign has qualified for the ballot. This gathering will take place in May or June, date to be determined, and is meant to recognize shared accomplishment rather than competition.

Overall winners and long-term recognition

In addition to monthly recognition, overall top contributors across all three periods will be recognized. 

This is still a TBD item. We want to get a feel for what everyone really likes and what the goals are of the people helping with this effort. When we have a better sense of that, we will create a list of “Overall winner” prizes.

What this is not

This program is not employment, compensation, fundraising, or an endorsement requirement. Recognition reflects early effort, trust, and contribution.

Ground rules

To keep the effort effective and legally clean, volunteers should not canvass door-to-door without coordination, should always use their personal pledge link when sharing, and should describe the pledge accurately and without pressure.

Closing principle

This campaign is being built deliberately, transparently, and from the ground up. The rewards reflect that philosophy.

If you help build this early, you help shape what it becomes.