Knock doors in Michigan. Win the Senate.

Choose a Michigan shift

Pick a trip organized by 46th Ward Dems, UChicago Dems, Northwestern, or coalition partners.

Meet your crew in Chicago

Rides depart from neighborhood hubs across Chicagoland. Carpool passengers and drivers are connected before departure.

Train and knock with local organizers

Get paired with an experienced buddy at the field staging location, receive training, and talk to battleground voters.

How do Chicago volunteers travel to canvassing shifts in Michigan?

Operation Swing State and our coalition partners organize dedicated carpools and bus trips from Chicago and Evanston (including hubs at 46th Ward Dems, UChicago, and Northwestern) directly to field offices across Southwest and Central Michigan, typically a 90-minute to 2.5-hour drive.

Why is Michigan a critical swing state in 2026?

Michigan is a pivotal battleground with a high-stakes U.S. Senate election and multiple toss-up U.S. House seats (MI-07 and MI-10, per the Cook Political Report) that will decide the balance of power in Washington. Every statewide election in Michigan comes down to field turnout in battleground communities.

Which Democratic candidates are Chicago volunteers supporting in Michigan?

Our coalition supports frontline Democratic nominees running to hold the U.S. Senate seat, frontline congressional candidates fighting to flip or hold competitive battleground districts, and local organizers working across Southwest Michigan and Grand Rapids corridors.

Do I need a car or political experience to volunteer in Michigan?

No car or previous canvassing experience is required. We coordinate rides for volunteers without cars, provide experienced canvass partners, and host full on-site training sessions before knocking doors.

What should I expect on a weekend canvass trip to Michigan?

Volunteers meet at designated Chicago departure points on Saturday or Sunday morning, carpool to the Michigan staging hub, receive a briefing and voter list via the MiniVAN app, knock doors for approximately 2 to 3 hours, and return together by late afternoon or early evening.

Which Michigan congressional districts are competitive in 2026?

The Cook Political Report rates MI-7 (the Lansing area; Rep. Tom Barrett vs. William Lawrence) and the open MI-10 seat (Macomb County) as toss-ups, and MI-4 (southwest Michigan, including Benton Harbor and Kalamazoo; Rep. Bill Huizenga vs. Sean McCann) as Lean Republican. The open U.S. Senate race between Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers is also a toss-up. Our Chicago bus trips and carpools mostly canvass in MI-4.

How far is southwest Michigan from Chicago?

Benton Harbor and St. Joseph are about 97 road miles from the Chicago Loop, roughly 1½ to 2 hours around the lake on I-94 without traffic. Kalamazoo is about 146 miles (2¼ to 3 hours). Michigan is on Eastern time, one hour ahead of Chicago, so plan departures accordingly.

When is early voting in Michigan for the November 2026 election?

Statewide early in-person voting runs at least nine days, from Saturday, October 24 through Sunday, November 1, 2026, and some communities start earlier. Online and mail registration closes October 19; after that, Michigan residents can register in person at their city or township clerk's office with proof of residency through 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3.