Key Takeaways:
- A radical socialist with less than 1% name recognition won the New York City mayor’s race because he used a sophisticated, modern, under-the-radar election system.
• This same system — the New Socialist Election Model — has won in dozens of cities and was deployed in other local elections including the Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, where the Democrat candidate outperformed expectations by 13 points in a district Trump won by 22+ points.
• The tactics used in both races are NOT what you see on TV or on social media; they are unseen, highly coordinated, data-driven, micro-targeted systems.
• Republican consultants are still using outdated, ineffective, decades-old strategies — and are getting blindsided.
• Conservatives, Republicans, libertarians, and Christians must learn these tactics, master them, and deploy principled versions of them — or risk losing elections they should easily win.
• This model is already expanding into blue, purple, and red areas across America — including cities and counties most people think are “safe.”
• Every church, candidate, activist, and voter must understand this new battlefield — because 2026 will be won by those who understand turnout, micro-targeting, and relational mobilization – not the traditional campaign tactics.
The old Democratic Party is gone.
In its place is a new, bold, aggressive socialist movement that is highly organized, fully strategic, and technologically sophisticated.
And the recent New York City mayor’s race proved it.
A radical socialist with under 1% name recognition beat the Democrat establishment — not because he had more money, but because he ran a modern election machine unlike anything most Republicans have ever seen.
This wasn’t luck. It wasn’t personality. It wasn’t even ideology.
It was system.
And now that system is spreading.
The Shock in Tennessee’s 7th District
A radical – the “AOC of Nashville” shocked the Republican establishment.
But one fact is already undeniable:
The Democrat candidate — a radical Bernie Sanders socialist — used Sanders much the same New York model, and outperformed conventional wisdom in a district Trump won by 22+ points, outperforming by 13 points.
She did what Republican insiders said was unthinkable.
She did it despite Governor of Tennessee, Bill Lee, and both U.S. Senators trying to salvage the Republican candidate.
She shook the district. She moved votes. She proved the model works even in deep-red territory.
And this wasn’t because of TV ads. Or yard signs. Or traditional campaigning.
It was the unseen system — the same system that won New York City.
It took massive last-minute funding and organization in about two weeks to offset the under-the-radar campaign. It took Trump with tweets and telephone calls – a telephone town hall – to intervene.
So, what is the secret?
Secret #1: Start Early… Way Early
The socialist campaigns begin months before Republicans even wake up.
While most GOP consultants wait until spring or summer, these campaigns start early and:
• Build massive databases
• Train volunteers
• Test messages
• Recruit coalition leaders
• Deploy petitions
• Run early digital content
By the time the Republican machine starts moving, the socialist machine is already fully built.
Secret #2: Petitions That Build an Army
They don’t begin with “Vote for me.”
They begin with petitions — not to influence policy, but to build their database and movement.
Topics include:
• Rent
• Migrant protection
• Crime
• Transit costs
• “Justice” issues
Every petition captures new supporters.
Every signer becomes a data point.
Every issue becomes an emotional hook.
Petitions are not policy tools — they are recruiting tools.
Secret #3: The Friends-and-Neighbors Strategy
This is the heart of the system.
Socialists have perfected relational campaigning — building micro-communities of people who feel emotionally connected to the cause.
Volunteers host:
• Coffees
• Potlucks
• Small gatherings
• Virtual meetups
• Block-based micro-events
Each volunteer recruits 3–5 others. Those people recruit more. It multiplies.
They certainly make sure their circle of influence votes.
This is NOT what Republicans do.
And it wins elections.
Secret #4: Social Media on Steroids
While Republicans post occasionally, the socialist campaigns flood social media.
The New York winner posted 10–12 videos per week, memes, reels, TikToks — all designed to persuade, mobilize, and most importantly, activate turnout.
All targeted to interest-based audiences.
It’s not random content.
It’s strategic. Tested. Produced to match the emotional triggers uncovered by petitions.
This is not “branding” — it’s mobilization media.
Secret #5: Coalition Building — Including Churches
Contrary to what conservatives assume, the model includes:
• Immigrant communities
• Churches
• Mosques
• Social justice groups
• Nonprofits
• Student organizations
In New York, many black pastors openly prayed over the socialist and Muslim candidate.
This shocked the establishment — but it worked.
Secret #6: Volunteer Armies — Up to 100,000 Strong
The New York campaign had between 90,000 and 100,000 volunteers.
The Tennessee socialist campaign also deployed an overwhelming volunteer corps – many trained, many imported, all strategically deployed.
These are not random door-knockers. They’re disciplined organizers.
Every action is tracked. Every contact is targeted. Every voter is pushed to turn out.
Secret #7: AI and Microtargeting
Everything voters see is tailored to their top emotional trigger.
• Crime? They hear about “justice reform.”
• Rent? They hear about housing.
• Transit? They hear about free public transportation.
• Gen Z? They hear emotional, social, and cultural messages crafted just for them.
Every email, text, video, and knock is customized by AI-guided data.
This is the future of elections.
Secret #8: The Turnout Blitz
Election Day is not passive.
It is a coordinated, aggressive, relentless turnout operation:
• “Have you voted yet?” knocks
• Ride offers
• Childcare offers
• Neighbor-to-neighbor reminders
• Texts
• Calls
• Micro-audience appeals
No one is left untouched.
This is why socialist candidates are winning races — even in unexpected places.
Why This Matters for 2026
What happened in New York…
What happened in Tennessee…
Is coming to your community — whether you live in a red, blue, or purple area.
Republican consultants are still using outdated, ineffective strategies that worked 20 years ago — but not today.
If conservatives continue using the old playbook, they will continue losing winnable races.
But if they learn the New Election Model…
If they apply it with integrity and excellence…
If they mobilize churches, communities, activists, and volunteers…
They will win again.
The battlefield has changed. Most people don’t see it. But you need to.
And that’s why Shelly and I break down these strategies in complete detail in this week’s Huey Alert podcast.
To watch the podcast, click the links below:
To listen only to the audio version of the podcast, click any of the following links:
FAQs:
Q: Is this just a New York problem?
A: No. The same system was used in Tennessee’s TN-07 Congressional race and is spreading nationwide.
Q: Are these tactics illegal or unethical?
A: No. They’re strategic, modern, and highly effective. Conservatives simply haven’t adopted them.
Q: Can churches and Christian voters use similar tactics?
A: Absolutely — and they must. The difference is intent and integrity.
Q: Does money determine the winner anymore?
A: Not nearly as much. Organization, microtargeting, relational outreach, and turnout now decide elections.
Q: What can one person do?
A: Start a friends-and-neighbors circle, mobilize your church, learn the model, and help candidates implement it.
About Craig Huey:
Craig Huey is a Christian author, election expert, and president of Creative Direct Marketing Group (CDMG). He is the host of The Huey Alert podcast and publisher of The Huey Report, reaching over 100,000 subscribers. Craig has helped elect candidates nationwide, advised churches on voter mobilization, and written extensively on the rise of socialism, election strategy, and the spiritual and cultural battles shaping America today.