How This Campaign is Different

This isn't your run-of-the-mill ballot initiative campaign.


Our main man, Hiram Johnson.

A quick history lesson: a long time ago, way before Ipods, California had a visionary governor named Hiram Johnson. He wanted to save California politics from the undue influence of the railroads over the legislature. Yes, railroads! (This is also way before Amtrak.)

So get this...the ballot initiative was supposed to take big money OUT of politics and give power back to regular people.

Well, money has a way of getting back in. Some California ballot initiative campaigns in the last election cycle dropped $80 million to win over voters. If we had $80 million, maybe we'd buy a way to your heart too.

But since we a little short of that figure, we have to rely on our other strengths.


Here's how our campaign is different:

  • We're student-led. Yes, the same students who eat pizza and occasionally study are doing this!
  • We're volunteer-driven. Our team of students, parents, and other concerned volunteers is running this campaign because we believe in this issue, not to get paid per signature.
  • We're wired. We know something most political consultants don't...how to reach every one of our friends using new technology. Candidates have started to figure this out. We're one of the first ballot initiative campaigns to blaze the trail.
  • We're keeping it (sort of) cheap. Hey, we know how to survive on Ramen noodles. The reality of California's political process, of course, involves lots of money. But we think that the money we're spending is best spent on building a powerful organizing network that can build a viable campaign.
  • We have a lot of heart. We're not cynical. Yet. Help us keep it that way!