ICYMI: DNC Launches Largest-Ever In-Person Nationwide Trainings for Next Generation of Campaign Staff Ahead of the 2026 Midterms Arrow

Last week, the DNC launched its NextWave Regional Bootcamp training program, the DNC's largest-ever in-person campaign staff training program, to ensure Democrats have the best talent prepared to run and win campaigns in 2026 and beyond.

Powered by a seven-figure investment, NextWave will feature three-day bootcamps across the country for aspiring and current campaign staff in target states to learn the skills they'll need to help Democrats win in November. The first two bootcamps will be held in the battleground states of North Carolina and Arizona.

In total, the program will train hundreds of staff in the coming months on a variety of core campaign skills, including fundraising, communications, voter registration, organizing, and more.

Take a look at some of the coverage below:

Spectrum News: DNC launches volunteer bootcamp ahead of 2026 midterms

[Cassie Semyon, 2/12/2026]

"The Democratic National Committee is launching an investment strategy to train its next generation of volunteer staff in battleground states.

"The seven-figure investment will result in a bootcamp training program known as the NextWave Regional Bootcamp, which the DNC says will be its largest in-person campaign training program to date…

"The goal, according to the DNC, is to train hundreds of staffers for fundraising, communications, voter registration and other core campaign skills. …

"'Democrats must seize the unprecedented momentum and enthusiasm we are seeing by ensuring campaigns across the country have the very best talent as we work to flip seats up and down the ballot,' said DNC Chair Ken Martin. 'As Donald Trump and Republicans take a sledgehammer to our economy, health care, and American values, it's never been more important for Democrats to compete on the campaign trail - and through programs like this, we are going to win in 2026 and beyond.'"

The Hill: Democrats launch 7-figure program to train campaign staffers ahead of November

[Caroline Vakil, 02/12/26]

"The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is rolling out a program Thursday that's looking to train both new and current campaign staffers on a variety of skills as both parties ready themselves for the November midterms.

"Called the NextWave Regional Bootcamp training program, the DNC will be hosting three-day boot camps, which are being created together with state parties and coordinated campaigns, in 'target states' to teach staffers different skills - including organizing, fundraising and voter registration.

"The committee said the program, which is being launched with a seven-figure investment, will be geared toward two different types of operatives: One for midlevel campaign staffers with more experience and a separate entry-level track for staffers newer to campaigns…

"'Democrats must seize the unprecedented momentum and enthusiasm we are seeing by ensuring campaigns across the country have the very best talent as we work to flip seats up and down the ballot,' DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement.

"'That's why, through NextWave, the DNC is launching our largest-ever in-person training program to recruit and train new campaign staff and ensure current campaign staff have an opportunity to hone their skills ahead of these critical elections,' he added."

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