YIMBYs for Harris in the News
In Chicago last week, Kamala Harris and other Democratic leaders seized on the theme that America’s housing crisis is a supply-side problem worsened by local regulations that make it difficult to build enough new homes.
Harris’ spotlight on housing, rare for a presidential campaign, was a breakout moment for lawmakers and activists aligned with the YIMBY, or Yes in My Back Yard, cause — a movement sparked in San Francisco by activists frustrated by the city’s soaring rents and tight housing market.
YIMBY-aligned Californians are trying to help Harris capitalize on the issue. Rep. Robert Garcia, Wiener and Foote will be part of a “YIMBYs for Harris” organizing call on Wednesday. Other speakers include Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz and San Francisco Mayor London Breed.
Armand Domalewski, lead organizer for YIMBYS for Harris, said he was moved to start the campaign after other affinity groups such as White Dudes for Harris and #WinWithBlackWomen attracted hundreds of thousands of supporters and raised millions of dollars.
Momentum to rally around the president with YIMBY voters kicked into gear when Harris announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — a favorite among pro-housing advocates — as her running mate.
Domalewski said his group has more than 700 members after about two weeks and this month will host a digital fundraising event featuring Wiener, Mayor London Breed, other politicians from around the country, and journalist Matt Yglesias.
“I would like to see the White House take more of a stand on housing and set the tone for state legislatures to follow,” Domalewski said.
The Washington Post
Groups supporting Vice President Kamala Harris have jump-started dozens of identity-driven virtual calls to channel renewed enthusiasm by raising money, recruiting volunteers and growing email lists for the Harris ticket.
A constellation of Democrat-backing political-action and nonprofit groups, politicians, and niche communities coordinating on social media has convened telethon-like video calls, mostly hosted on Zoom, to rally support for Harris.
“YIMBYs for Harris” and “Swifties for Harris” are among the calls scheduled for later this month.
Armand Domalewski, a California-based data analyst, started “Yimbys for Harris” this month. Domalewski first got involved with pro-housing advocates after hearing Sonya Trauss (now executive director of Yimby Law, who played a significant part in building momentum for the pro-housing movement in California) speak at a public meeting in San Francisco in 2015.
After Harris tapped Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, Domalewski started a WhatsApp group called “Yimbys for Harris,” which he said quickly “blew up.” The group now has a website and is hosting an online fundraiser for Harris next week.
“My goal with this is to demonstrate to the Democratic Party that Yimbys are a big, important constituency,” he said. “We’re a voice that matters.”