Hoyer Getting the 411 on Fellow Members
With the midterm elections just two weeks away, House Democratic leaders are making a final effort to ensure they can get in touch with rank-and-file Members on Election Day.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s office sent out a missive to chiefs of staff recently to “make sure we have the most up to date information,” according to a document obtained by Roll Call.
In addition to collecting the whereabouts of Members on election night, the Maryland Democrat’s office is also seeking updated district information and contact information for senior-level staff.
“This is nothing new,” Hoyer spokeswoman Katie Grant said in an e-mail. “Our administrative office maintains and regularly updates Members’ contact information, including prior to elections so Mr. Hoyer can reach Members to congratulate them.”
A Democratic leadership aide agreed the outreach is business as usual.
“It’s totally normal for folks to make sure they can get in touch with candidates on Election Day and prior to that,” the aide said.
Other Democratic leadership offices have similar call sheets organized to get in touch with Members before and on election night.
“You always do calls to people to remind them that you helped them,” one Democratic lobbyist said. “[Hoyer] will not be the only one making calls on election night.”
The information is useful beyond election night, as well, according to several Democratic lobbyists and aides. It can be used to get in touch with Members in the days after the midterm elections when Members look to secure commitments for leadership elections.