Strategist Rachel Bitterkofer urges Democrats to ‘hit Republicans where it hurts’ ahead of 2024

Rachel Bitterkofer, a political strategist and author, told a room of Washington Democrats that the party should adopt a single, repeatable wedge message—centered on "freedom" and opposition to "MAGA extremism"—to persuade the narrow band of swing voters who determine close races.

Bitterkofer, who described her approach as grounded in political‑science research, said two findings underpin the strategy: most Americans have limited civic knowledge beyond high‑visibility figures such as the president, and party identification is the chief shortcut voters use to decide. "People don't know anything," she said, adding that campaigns must therefore tell one clear story and repeat it widely.

She argued the digital era has reduced common information streams and increased voters' selective exposure, giving campaigns fewer, higher‑value opportunities to move opinion. "If you have a budget of $10,000,000 and you're running a race ... you have to tell them one thing," she said, urging organizers to prioritize distribution and repetition over spreading messages across many topics.

Using examples from the 2022 cycle, Bitterkofer credited single‑message, wedge campaigns with helping Democrats hold or win several statewide contests. She urged activists and candidates to "wedge the Dobbs decision in freedom," making abortion and the threat to personal freedom the core message in swing contests. "If you're going to accept that your voters know nothing, make sure in your swing races they know one thing: this Republican is a MAGA extremist who's going to steal your freedom," she said.

Bitterkofer acknowledged the language is blunt and that some activists may be uncomfortable with what she called "being mean," but framed it as an urgent response to what she described as an existential threat. She warned that defeat could have severe consequences in states that have already moved to restrict reproductive rights.

In an audience Q&A, a participant who identified himself as Azim Underwood asked whether updated data would show "how many Republicans voted for a convicted felon." Bitterkofer predicted—without citing a data source—that about "96% of Republicans and those who lean Republican will vote for a convicted felon" and said the 2024 outcome would come down to a handful of states and roughly 100,000 votes. The presentation and responses made clear these figures were her assessment and not presented with a cited empirical source.

Other questions addressed practical campaign concerns: how to use voter‑file scoring to target independents, whether to run mixed issue messaging, and how candidates who prioritize progressive issues should adjust local messaging. When Mary Beckler, who identified herself as a candidate for the 4th Congressional District, asked which single message to emphasize, Bitterkofer replied: "Run on freedom, democracy, and MAGA extremism."

Bitterkofer also promoted her book and said she offers further online trainings; she invited attendees to purchase signed copies after the session. The talk closed with attendees encouraged to take the one‑message approach into local campaigns and trainings.Beyond the talk, Bitterkofer's session underscored a broader tactical debate within the Democratic coalition about balancing base mobilization, issue advocacy, and single‑message persuasion in swing electorates.