Mobilize America is a Democratic Party-aligned political action committee (PAC) that operates as a volunteer management platform and network that connects left-wing organizations, campaigns, and activists. The PAC acts as a tool for cross-networking collaboration and event management.  It makes it easier for Democratic groups to recruit, track, and organize new volunteers.¹

Background

Mobilize America was established by Alfred Johnson and Allen Kramer in May 2017. Johnson and Kramer received startup funding from Higher Ground Labs, a technology accelerator company.² Johnson worked on President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign and in 2011 served as Special Assistant to White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley.³ In January 2016, Kramer worked as a special project’s consultant on the Hillary for America campaign.⁴

Mobilize America was designed as an online software to managing and networking tool. The online platform allows users to recruit volunteers, keep organizers up to date, and share events with partners. The group was designed to allow for Democratic Party candidates to campaign more effectively.⁵

Political Activity

Mobilize America has been used by numerous Democratic candidates in local and federal elections. In the 2018 midterm election, some notable candidates that paid to use Mobilized America’s software were Jessica King, candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania’s 11^th district ($4,000); Conor Lamb, candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania’s 18^th district ($1,500); Peter Joffrion, candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in Alabama’s 5^th district ($1,500), Andrew Janz, candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in California’s 22^nd district ($1,500).⁶

Funding

In the 2018, Mobilize America raised around $217,000. Mobilize America has been supported by several Democratic groups.⁷ In 2018, some of the most notable groups are the Democratic Party of Virginia ($14,000), Texas Democratic Party ($13,000), and ActBlue ($6,000).⁸

Expenditures

In the 2018 election cycle, Mobilize America spent a total of about $212,000. Mobilize America spent $189,100 on salaries. The PAC spent a total of $7,900 on fundraising with about $6,000 being applied to fundraising consulting. It also spent $1,500 on campaign strategy and communications consulting.⁹

Partners

Mobilize America partnered with various left-wing organizations for the 2018 midterm elections. Some notable groups include the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC); Swing Left, a fundraising and voter mobilization PAC; Move On, a left-wing advocacy group; Stand Up America, a nonprofit created to oppose President Donald Trump’s political agenda; and Run For Something, a PAC that assists young Democratic candidates to run for state and local political offices.¹⁰

Notable Vendors

The top vendors for Mobilize America included Yasmin Radj, who serves as director of organizing and training at Planned Parenthood Federation of America,¹¹ received $65,622 as the Virginia State Director for Mobilize America;¹² Daniel Bram, who served as organizing director for the Hillary for America campaign,¹³ received $16,684 from Mobilize America for serving as an organizing director;¹⁴ and Emily Blumberg, who served as a regional organizing director for the Hillary for America campaign¹⁵ and received $10,189 for serving as out-of-commonwealth director at Mobilize America.¹⁶

1. “Our Mission.” MobilizeAmerica. Accessed December 03, 2018. https://www.mobilizeamerica.io/our-mission/.
2. Bloomberg.com. Accessed December 06, 2018. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-11-02/the-democrats-must-go-local-to-win.
3. Roarty, Alex. “Dems Pushing Candidates to Adopt Single Tool Built by Former Obama Aide.” Mcclatchydc. Accessed December 03, 2018. https://www.mcclatchydc.com/latest-news/article213132294.html.
4. Kramer, Allen. 2018, Allen Kramer, LinkedIn, viewed 3 December 2018, https://www.linkedin.com/in/allen-kramer-9810883a.
5. “Our Mission.” MobilizeAmerica. Accessed December 03, 2018. https://www.mobilizeamerica.io/our-mission/.
6. “MOBILIZE AMERICA – Committee Overview.” FEC.gov. Accessed December 03, 2018. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00649053/.
7. “MOBILIZE AMERICA – Committee Overview.” FEC.gov. Accessed December 06, 2018. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00649053/.
8. “MOBILIZE AMERICA – Committee Overview.” FEC.gov. Accessed December 03, 2018. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00649053/?tab=raising#total-receipts.
9. “Mobilize America Expenditures.” OpenSecrets.org. Accessed December 03, 2018. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/expenditures.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00649053.
10. “MobilizeAmerica.” MobilizeAmerica. Accessed December 03, 2018. https://www.mobilizeamerica.io/.
11. Radjy, Yasmin. 2018, Yasmin Radjy, LinkedIn, viewed 3 December 2018, https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasmin-radjy-50328836.
12. “Mobilize America Expenditures.” OpenSecrets.org. Accessed December 03, 2018. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/expenditures.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00649053.
13. Bram, Daniel. 2018, Daniel Bram, LinkedIn, viewed 3 December 2018, https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielbram.
14. “Mobilize America Expenditures.” OpenSecrets.org. Accessed December 03, 2018. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/expenditures.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00649053.
15. Blumberg, Emily. 2018, Emily Blumberg, LinkedIn, viewed 3 December 2018, https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-blumberg-327a528b.
16. “Mobilize America Expenditures.” OpenSecrets.org. Accessed December 03, 2018. https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/expenditures.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00649053.