Tim Pollard of Blitz Canvassing expressed to WIRED that subcontractors should not have transported canvassers in a U-Haul van, and those responsible were promptly reprimanded. On Wednesday, October 30, following the publication of the WIRED story, Muldrow and her fellow canvassers were terminated.
Initially, several individuals faced difficulties logging into Campaign Sidekick, a problematic app utilized by America PAC for canvassing. The ensuing confusion led to the announcement that their employment was terminated. This information was communicated by Jones, the manager of the canvassers, through a GroupMe chat, as confirmed by screenshots acquired by WIRED. Jones did not respond to requests for comment.
Muldrow initially suspected that Jones might be joking about the dismissals. However, several door knockers reported being locked out of Campaign Sidekick, as noted in the group chat. Muldrow immediately contacted her mother, who advised that she may be overreacting, given that Jones was a cousin. Her mother reassured Muldrow, pointing out that Jones wouldn’t leave her stranded, as she was responsible for arranging Muldrow’s initial travel.
Subsequently, Jones began inquiring within the group about who had communicated with the press. With tensions rising, Muldrow grew concerned for her safety. She collected her belongings and reached out to Connor Berdy, a political consultant and the founder of Vote For Change LLC, who is known for his work in community organizing in Southeast Michigan.
Muldrow had previously encountered Berdy on October 23, when one of Berdy’s employees engaged her in conversation during a canvassing activity near the employee’s residence. They later met for lunch, during which Muldrow shared her experiences, including being misled, threatened, and transported in U-Hauls to canvassing locations.
Berdy commented that the management evidently did not prioritize worker safety or the integrity of the operation. To ensure Muldrow’s safety, Berdy arrived on the scene and posed as an Uber driver to extract her from the situation. Additionally, Berdy personally covered the cost of Muldrow’s flight home to Florida.
