Marshall discovered FLIP NC through Durham for Organizing Action meetings following the 2016 election. He’s canvassed with FLIP NC nearly 10 times and is heartened by how eager people are to talk about current political events. He offers this advice to his fellow canvassers: “Listen to what the other person is telling you and respond to them on a personal level.”
Marshall is part of FLIP NC’s new four-person Alamance Leadership Team. Click here to sign up for an upcoming Alamance canvass! House District 63 in this county is one of the most flippable districts in North Carolina. In 2018, Dems fell short of flipping this seat by about 300 votes, and it will become an even better target for Democrats in 2020.
Read on to learn more about why Marshall is fired up for the 2020 election.
If you've participated in other canvasses, how are FLIP NC canvasses different?
I've canvassed for several presidential campaigns before FLIP, and my first job out of college was actually a paid canvassing gig. But FLIP's canvasses feel different. I think that's because the conversations are less transactional, especially this far out from an election. We're not really asking for something so much as we are having conversations with people about what matters to us and what matters to them.
Have a funny story or touching moment to share? A conversation you remember?
Marshall with a fellow FLIP NC canvasser last fall.
The last time I canvassed before the 2018 election, I spoke with a voter from Puerto Rico. She talked about how she'd never really been involved with politics before, but after the government's response to Hurricane Maria, she felt an urgent need to participate. For me, that conversation was a reminder of what's at stake when we vote. This isn't just fodder for television pundits. It isn't just about beating the other team. It's about people's lives and all the very real ways in which our choices at the ballot box impact people everywhere.
Why have you decided to step into a larger role this election cycle as part of the Alamance leadership team?
I genuinely enjoy the work. I've been doing it, in one way or another, for some time, so taking on a leadership role just felt like a natural next step.
What is really motivating you to get involved? Obviously, you want to FLIP NC, but tell us a bit about the "why."
The fact that the Republican Party in North Carolina has for the last decade flagrantly and repeatedly engaged in partisan power grabs is the thing that motivates me. I know that so much of the focus right now is on the anti-democratic aspects of the Trump presidency, but what's been happening at the state level is just as dangerous and damaging to the long-term health of our democracy. People need to know about that, and when they learn what's happening, they are motivated to take action.
How are you feeling about the 2020 election? Optimistic?
In terms of the presidential election, I would say I am guardedly optimistic. I think the Democrats are probably slight favorites to win back the White House, but it is far from a sure thing. I'm anticipating a very close election where a handful of votes in a few states (North Carolina, Wisconsin, Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida) will decide who the next President is. On the state level, I feel very optimistic about Governor Cooper's re-election bid. He is by far the most popular politician in the state, and it's really good that Democrats have him at the top of the ticket. I think the race against Senator Tillis is going to be razor close. It's one of just a handful of Senate races around the county that will determine who has the majority in the United States Senate in 2021, and I'd be surprised if it was decided by more than a point or two. In terms of the General Assembly races, I have no idea what to expect. With new maps, I feel like it's the first time Democrats have had a chance at a majority in either chamber in a decade; but like so many races all around the country in 2020, the contests in the battleground districts will be super close. It's why we have to keep conveying to people how urgent their vote is.
Days before the 2018 election (and days before the birth of their son), Marshall and his wife, Karen, joined fellow FLIPsters at Fullsteam to stamp and address postcards for voters in flippable districts.
Tell us a little bit about your background.
I grew up in Raleigh and have spent basically my whole life living in some part of North Carolina. My wife and I currently live in Durham. Our young son was born exactly one week before the 2018 midterms. Currently, I teach online theater classes to students at UNC-Wilmington.
Other than politics, what’s a passion of yours?
Well, I'm fortunate that my profession is my passion. I'm a theater artist. I teach theater for a living, and in my spare time I make theater with various companies in the Triangle. Since November 2016, I've felt even more compelled to make and consume art. There's so much about this present historical moment that is ugly, and for me things like theater and literature represent an opportunity to think about something other than the latest outrageous thing the president said, did, or tweeted. It's so easy to get sucked into the 24-hour news cycle, but we also need to remember that there is – to paraphrase a line from the musical “Avenue Q” – life outside the news cycle.
Who do you admire in politics? Why?
There are a lot of people I could name, but one person who really stands out to me is Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut. Reforming our gun laws is the most important issue to me right now, and Senator Murphy has consistently shown moral courage and leadership on this issue.
What would you say to someone who is feeling totally dejected by our current state of politics? And how do you stay in the fight?
In this moment, I understand the temptation to gravitate toward politicians who promise to burn the whole system down and throw everyone out, but populism and the politics of anger are not the answer. We cannot burn our institutions down because they are imperfect. Rather, we have to become active participants in repairing and improving our institutions, and we need to find politicians who promise to do the same.
Tell us about a political moment that inspired you, whether it was a personal conversation, a speech given by a president, or a recent "blue wave" moment.
While it isn't "inspirational" in the traditional sense, I am definitely buoyed by the recent North Carolina court ruling that means we'll have fair, nonpartisan maps for the 2020 election. For nearly a decade, North Carolina has not had fair or competitive elections for the state legislature. This court ruling changes that, and now voters across the state will actually have a chance to make their voice heard. This has me feeling pretty fired up and ready to go!