143 votes.
This is how many votes YAL endorsed candidate Paul Milde won by in his "David vs. Goliath" showdown against the establishment. YAL students knocked on 20,196 doors to deliver the razor-thin win to Paul!
Last night was a roller coaster of emotions for our students. YAL's Operation Win at the Door secured victories for both Paul Milde and Amanda Batten.
Amanda Batten coasted to victory with a 1,159 vote win margin. Amanda will serve as a seat-mate to liberty warrior Nick Freitas in the Virginia House of Delegates. Thanks to YAL's grassroots efforts... Amanda handedly beat a former incumbent after YAL knocked on 7,902 doors.
And as for Paul Milde... YAL alumnus Dustin Curtis put Paul on our radar last year through our candidate recommendation process.
Dustin is serving as Paul's campaign manager after attending numerous YAL national training events as a chapter leader. To put it bluntly: YAL's curriculum taught him the basic tactics to win on principle.
As you know, YAL not only focuses on teaching our students the principles of individual liberty, free markets, and the Constitution... but we also focus on producing real results. YAL activists learn what it takes to be truly effective in the political process.
Dustin and Paul both attended the Liberty Candidate Academy that YAL hosted in December 2018.
And after last night's win, Dustin emailed me and said the following:
"Cliff, we did it! Thanks to the campaign strategy YAL taught me, and the robust ground-game from the YAL door knockers... we pulled off a 143 vote win! This entire experience proves to me that a passion for the principles of liberty, strategic planning, and hard work will lead to liberty in my lifetime. We can take this country back, and YAL's Operation Win at the Door proves it!"
- Dustin Curtis
Paul Milde Campaign Manager
Former YAL chapter leader
And as for Paul Milde... YAL alumnus Dustin Curtis put Paul on our radar last year through our candidate recommendation process.
Dustin is serving as Paul's campaign manager after attending numerous YAL national training events as a chapter leader. To put it bluntly: YAL's curriculum taught him the basic tactics to win on principle.
As you know, YAL not only focuses on teaching our students the principles of individual liberty, free markets, and the Constitution... but we also focus on producing real results. YAL activists learn what it takes to be truly effective in the political process.
Dustin and Paul both attended the Liberty Candidate Academy that YAL hosted in December 2018.
And after last night's win, Dustin emailed me and said the following:
"Cliff, we did it! Thanks to the campaign strategy YAL taught me, and the robust ground-game from the YAL door knockers... we pulled off a 143 vote win! This entire experience proves to me that a passion for the principles of liberty, strategic planning, and hard work will lead to liberty in my lifetime. We can take this country back, and YAL's Operation Win at the Door proves it!"
- Dustin Curtis
Paul Milde Campaign Manager
Former YAL chapter leader
(Dustin as a YAL chapter leader.)
Dustin is exactly the type of leader that YOU support when you sponsor a student to attend YALCON. We are building a youth army of students just like Dustin to lead campaigns across America and make liberty win.
Last night's victories also came with two tough defeats... Tina Freitas and Ron Berman fought hard alongside our YAL door knockers... but fell short of victory. I want to thank both of them for stepping up and running fierce campaigns in an attempt to oust entrenched incumbents.
It's off to the general election now for Amanda and Paul in Virginia. In the meantime, keep an eye out for endorsements in Mississippi, Louisiana, and New Jersey where state legislative races are also being held in 2019.
Buckle up everyone... YAL is just getting started.
For liberty,
Cliff Maloney
President
Young Americans for Liberty