Congressional Black Caucus Institute Launches SO VOTE Campaign

The Congressional Black Caucus Institute launched the SO VOTE campaign on Tuesday, a multimillion-dollar initiative to register and mobilize young, rural, and majority-Black voters for the upcoming midterm elections. The campaign targets 16 key congressional districts across the South, Midwest, and West, with specific outreach focused on Georgia and Mississippi.

To reach lower-propensity voters, the institute is avoiding traditional television advertising. Instead, the effort utilizes geotargeted digital ads and partnerships with local civic groups, houses of worship, fraternities, sororities, and online content creators. The institute has raised approximately $1 million from individual donors and intends to spend at least $4.5 million on the project.

Organizers framed the campaign as a response to Republican-led redistricting and a perceived failure by both major political parties to engage marginalized communities. Former congresswoman Marcia Fudge is spearheading the effort, while former congressman Cedric Richmond is focusing outreach on rural areas. Representative Bennie Thompson characterized the initiative as a way to counter attempts by Southern states to minimize Black political strength, and Representative Jim Clyburn noted that the institute finally possesses the resources necessary to implement these proposed outreach strategies.