Pennsylvania Democratic Party field organizer Devin O’Connor has arrived in the county for the duration of the Fall 20206 election cycle. His organization has leased space from the Adams County Democratic Committee and O’Connor has set up his operation at at 24 Chambersburg St. in Gettysburg.
O’OConnor says his focus for the 2026 election cycle is simple: bring together the county’s various Democratic organizations under a coordinated strategy that maximizes volunteers, avoids duplicated effort, and targets the precincts where the party believes it can make the biggest difference.
O’Connor said the effort begins tomorrow, with regular “Weekends of Action,” organized canvassing events that send volunteers across the county to speak with voters at their homes. The next statewide weekend is scheduled for July 25-26, with similar events planned monthly before expanding to nearly every weekend as the election approaches.
The goal, he said, is to increase civic engagement well before the fall campaign reaches its peak.
“We’re going to try to get people out there and get the message out,” O’Connor said, noting that volunteers will fan out from the Adams County Democratic Committee office to neighborhoods throughout the county.
O’Connor expects roughly 20 to 30 volunteers during the July weekend of action. The campaign prioritizes precincts based on previous election results, registration data and turnout history. Areas decided by relatively small margins receive the highest priority, while organizers also look for neighborhoods with large numbers of independent voters or Democratic voters who did not participate in previous elections.
A typical canvassing shift lasts two to three hours and covers approximately 40 to 50 homes, although rural routes may include fewer stops because of driving distances. O’Connor said even a single volunteer can have an impact in closely contested precincts.
The campaign’s voter information comes through VoteBuilder, the Democratic Party’s national voter database, which organizers access through the MiniVAN mobile application while canvassing. The system allows volunteers to record conversations, note voter interests, identify potential volunteers and avoid contacting the same households repeatedly.
O’Connor said organizers encourage canvassers to gather more than simple yes-or-no responses. Volunteers are givne a list of questions, typically asking whether residents plan to support Democratic candidates, whether they are interested in volunteering, and what issues matter most to them. Information collected during conversations helps organizers identify future volunteers and community leaders.
Although door-to-door canvassing remains the campaign’s highest priority, O’Connor said there are several ways to volunteer. Weekly phone banking sessions are held online through Google Meet, allowing participants to make calls from home, though he said declining answer rates have made phone outreach less effective than in-person conversations.
As Election Day approaches, the organization also plans to recruit volunteer drivers to transport voters who may have difficulty reaching the polls, particularly older residents. O’Connor envisions neighborhood-based volunteer captains who can coordinate rides within their communities.
People interested in volunteering can register for canvassing events through the Mobilize website or contact O’Connor directly to discuss opportunities. In addition to scheduled weekend events, he said volunteers can often be accommodated during the week if they prefer smaller group outings.
While O’Connor works for the state Democratic Party rather than the Adams County Democratic Committee, he said the organizations are working closely together. His broader objective, he said, is to ensure that Democratic organizations throughout the county coordinate their efforts, share voter data and distribute volunteers strategically rather than concentrating on the same neighborhoods.
“The biggest thing I’m doing here is trying to bring all the groups together,” O’Connor said, explaining that coordination helps ensure volunteers cover the entire county, including smaller communities that might otherwise receive less attention.
Volunteers are encouraged to contact O’Connor directly at 301.741.3578 or doconnor@padems.org