Democracy Toolbox in the News

In 'voting deserts,' D-FW advocacy groups want to drive more voters to the polls Dallas Morning News, September 19, 2024

Can You Trust the Polls That Say Texas Could Go Blue?

Texas Monthly, September 12, 2024

In His Bid to Unseat Ted Cruz, Colin Allred is Hardly Visible. Looks Like It's Working.

Texas Monthly, August 29, 2024

Excerpt:  North Texas political consultant Jeff Dalton said, "He [Allred] wants people to see that he’s an independent thinker and a candidate with his own convictions who is capable of criticizing or supporting policies on both sides."

Will the Kamala Harris surge affect down-ballot races in Texas?

Dallas Morning News, August 26, 2024

Excerpt:  North Texas political consultant Jeff Dalton said young voters, women and voters of color are providing much of the Democrats’ newfound energy.

Can a Texas Democrat Get Elected on Gun Control?

Texas Monthly, February 23, 2024

Excerpt:  Dalton expressed hope that most “practical” voters agree with partial limits on certain “powerful” firearms and making access to those weapons harder.

Contrasting styles emerge in Democratic primary to face Sen. Ted Cruz

Dallas Morning News, November 22, 2023

Excerpt:  “The base Democrat wants a fighter, wants somebody that will stand up to what they see is a radical Republican Party,” said Dalton. "They see radical reduction in our rights, women’s rights in particular, and inaction on gun violence.”

Will Dallas Mayor's defection to the GOP make Dallas government more partisan?

Dallas Morning News, October 9, 2023

Excerpt:  Local political consultant Jeff Dalton, a Democrat who has worked partisan and nonpartisan contests in Dallas County, said the city’s business elite and North Dallas residents who are high-frequency voters are formidable in nonpartisan races. Business leaders have typically recruited business-minded Democrats or Republicans to run for office.

Democracy Toolbox Clients Win Six City Council Races

Democracy Toolbox, May 15, 2023

Democracy Toolbox successfully guided six candidates to victory in the recent Dallas County municipal and school board joint elections. The victories include Dallas Councilman Tennell Atkins, Dallas Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn King Arnold, Dallas Councilman Jaime Resendez, DeSoto Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Andre Byrd, and Garland Councilman Ed Moore.

Plesa becomes first Democrat in decades to win Collin County House seat

Dallas Morning News, November 9, 2022

Excerpt: “She did a lot of canvassing, and a lot of voters knew who she was,” Dallas-based Democratic consultant Jeff Dalton said. “She got a lot of pledges at the door, asking people if they would vote for her, which is a good way to win a district race like this.”

Could Dallas County voter turnout boost Democrats across Texas?

Dallas Morning News, October 23, 2022

Excerpt: Longtime Dallas County political consultant Jeff Dalton said Democrats would win countywide races again this year, but at a lower rate than in 2018, when O’Rourke ran a close race for U.S. Senate against Republican incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz. Dalton said Democrats running in Dallas County got a bump in polls after the June Supreme Court decision to strike down national abortion rights, receiving about 61% of the vote. But since then it’s settled to 57% or lower for some candidates, and the sagging economy has helped Republicans, he said.

Dallas Democrats funding Latino voter effort

Dallas Morning News, August 10, 2022

Excerpt: Democratic Party leaders and political strategists are testing an initiative they hope leads to more Dallas County Latino voters turning out for the November midterm elections. Dallas-based Democratic consultant Jeff Dalton designed the voter engagement program, which will “test campaign tactics to gain valuable insights and actionable information about how best to campaign and increase Latino voting.”

Labor Breakfast: Biggest and Best

Dallas AFL-CIO Council, September 3, 2019

Excerpt: Special honorees were Madeleine Howard of TWU 556, Jeanne Schulze of AFGE 1003, consultant Jeff Dalton, and Gerardo Contreras of UAW 848. 

Can a moderate Democrat win?

Texas Tribune, October 11, 2018

Excerpt: Jeff Dalton, head of the Dallas County Democratic Coordinated Campaign, said the 114th was drawn in 2010 to make it a safe Republican district, but he thinks energy on the Democratic side can overcome that disadvantage. "I would say the biggest single factor that’s making 114 competitive this cycle is the fact that Donald Trump won,” Dalton said. "What I would call casual Democrats, who vote in presidential years and normally skip midterm years, are more engaged and more plugged in this cycle than I’ve even seen them in my career.”

No mystery, but plenty of intrigue, in John Creuzot's campaign for Dallas County DA

Dallas Morning News, February 15, 2017

Excerpt: "I put up his website and Facebook page on Super Bowl Sunday and within hours, six journalists called and one rang his door bell," said campaign consultant Jeff Dalton.

Farmers Branch's first Hispanic council member got out the hard-to-motivate Latino vote

Dallas Morning News, June 5, 2011

Excerpt: Ana Reyes, 39, credits her mother for demanding she attend council sessions in 2006. But she told The Dallas Morning News that political consultant Jeff Dalton and his firm Democracy Toolbox propelled success forward. “The Hispanic component of the vote has always been the brick wall,” said Dalton, who works exclusively for Democrats or in nonpartisan municipal elections. In fact, in the 2012 presidential race, Hispanics punched way below their weight with a turnout of only 48 percent. The top-performing group, black voters, participated at a 66 percent rate, according to newly released U.S. Census Bureau data. The political strategist said he methodically plotted data on the likelihood of a Reyes vote on a scale of 1 to 5 through canvassing. At one point, Dalton’s data showed Reyes in a dead heat with her opponent, William Capener, a print shop manager with ties to the local tea party. Canvassing intensified. Ana Reyes walked the entire District 1 three times, including on election day. Others followed in her steps until the nearly 1,800 voters in the district had received about a dozen visits.