Following 2025’s historic election year, where Democrats swept up and down the ballot across the country, the DNC is gearing up early to elect Democrats during next year’s midterms by launching two initiatives to lead on campaign talent recruitment and placement in 2026: the Battleground Leadership Project and BlueMatch. These new programs will ensure the party’s coordinated campaigns have the high-quality staff and top talent they need early in the 2026 election cycle to win up and down the ballot.

Take a look at some of the coverage below: 

NOTUS: DNC Rolls Out Pair of Programs to Staff Down Ballot Campaigns

[Alex Roarty, 12/15/25]

“The Democratic National Committee on Monday announced the creation of a pair of novel programs meant to help candidates find qualified people to run their campaigns, part of what officials with the group said is a two-pronged approach to help the party win as many races as it can in 2026.

“One effort, called the Battleground Leadership Project, will recruit and train men and women to be organizing directors and run the party’s coordinated campaigns in battleground states, an effort that would benefit Democrats up and down the ballot.

“The DNC is also planning to create a program in January called BlueMatch that will help match potential campaign staffers with Democratic candidates and state parties nationwide.

“Officials said they hope that the dual effort, backed by an initial six-figure investment from the DNC, will help resolve a longstanding problem of campaigns struggling to find qualified staff. The issue is especially acute for candidates running in more remote areas of the country, they said.

“‘As we head into the midterms, Democrats must seize this moment and ensure that our coordinated campaigns are staffed early with the strongest talent,’ DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement. ‘There are thousands of people who want to join our movement, and the DNC will get them on the ground across the country through the Battleground Leadership Project and BlueMatch — two critical programs to ensure our coordinated campaigns and state parties have the high-quality staff they need to win in 2026.’”

MeidasTouch News: DNC Launches Battleground Leadership Project Ahead of 2026 Midterms

[Troy Matthews, 12/15/25]

“The Democratic National Committee announced Monday the creation of two flagship initiatives for campaign staff recruitment and placement for the 2026 midterm elections: Battleground Leadership Project and Bluematch. 

“Battleground Leadership Project is a six-figure investment to recruit and train campaign directors and organizers to be ready at the start of the 2026 election cycle for races in key battleground states, rather than having campaigns fundraise to fill those roles.

“‘For too long, Democrats have not prioritized early hires,’ the DNC said in a statement. ‘This investment will help allow states to continue to raise funds without having to delay hiring, closing the months-long gap between when campaigns need early staff and when they can generally afford to bring them on.’ …

“‘Following the success of the 2025 elections, it’s clear that Democrats have the momentum,’ DNC Chair Ken Martin said. ‘As we head into the midterms, Democrats must seize this moment and ensure that our coordinated campaigns are staffed early with the strongest talent. There are thousands of people who want to join our movement, and the DNC will get them on the ground across the country through the Battleground Leadership Project and BlueMatch.’”

Campaigns & Elections: DNC Makes New Investment in Early Hiring Ahead of Midterms

[Max Greenwood, 12/16/25]

“The Democratic National Committee is launching a pair of new initiatives aimed at recruiting campaign talent ahead of the 2026 midterms. 

“One of the programs – dubbed the Battleground Leadership Project – includes a six-figure investment in recruiting and training coordinated campaign directors and organizing directors in key battleground states at the beginning of the new year. 

“The second initiative – called BlueMatch – will effectively act as a resume matchmaking service, pairing state parties and campaigns with candidates from the DNC’s talent bank. …

“‘As we head into the midterms, Democrats must seize this moment and ensure that our coordinated campaigns are staffed early with the strongest talent,’ DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement. ‘There are thousands of people who want to join our movement, and the DNC will get them on the ground across the country through the Battleground Leadership Project and BlueMatch — two critical programs to ensure our coordinated campaigns and state parties have the high-quality staff they need to win in 2026.’”