What is By the Ballot?
By the Ballot is a weekly newsletter about what it actually takes to win in the South — written by people who’ve knocked the doors, run the campaigns, and built the coalitions.
We’re not pundits. We’re not think-tank fellows. We’re the next generation of Southern Democrats who’ve spent years doing the unglamorous, essential work that wins elections: organizing in communities that national Democrats gave up on, recruiting candidates no one believed in, and turning out voters everyone else wrote off.
You can find By the Ballot on:
Why subscribe?
**What you’ll get every week:**
- Honest takes on Democratic strategy — especially where the party is getting it wrong
- Ground-level reporting from the New South’s most competitive battlegrounds
- Tactical analysis you won’t find from DC insiders who’ve never run a precinct
- A perspective that puts voters and organizers first, not consultants and donors
If you’re tired of losing and tired of excuses, this is the newsletter for you.
**Over 66,000 subscribers. Free to read. Built by people who show up.**
Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.
Who is Matt Royer?
Matt Royer is a seasoned political strategist, campaign manager, and digital communications expert with over a decade of experience advancing progressive causes through field organizing, paid media, and youth leadership development. He currently serves on the DNC’s Youth Council as an At Large Member. He has previously served as the President of the Virginia Young Democrats and as the 2nd Vice Chair of the Association of Chartered Unit Presidents for the Young Democrats of America.
Matt’s campaign experience spans every level of the field—from volunteer management to statewide program design. He has organized in rural, suburban, and urban communities and successfully trained hundreds of young activists on field strategy, voter contact, and campaign infrastructure.
Previously, as Chief of Staff of YDA and Communications Director of YDA, Matt advised national leadership, helped plan 8 National Committee meetings (both in person and virtual) and 2 national conventions, revamped digital fundraising, supported over 45 chartered units across the country, led national press operations, and built a cohesive messaging strategy around the 2022 midterms and 2024 presidential. He was also a member of both the Steering and Central Committees of the Democratic Party of Virginia from 2020 - 2025.
In the digital media world, Matt brings professional experience from multiple political agencies since 2016, where he developed and executed multi-million dollar paid media plans, including digital-first content for social platforms and Connected TV. His ability to blend analytics with authentic storytelling has shaped winning strategies for clients across the political spectrum.
Matt is also a frequent political analyst and commentator, with appearances in major national and regional outlets including The Washington Post, NewsNation, The Nation, Fox News, The Independent, DC News Now, and DCUSA. His analysis focuses on youth voting, campaign strategy, and Democratic messaging.
From knocking doors to national comms to on-air punditry, Matt’s work is grounded in a deep commitment to coalition-building, empowering young people, and delivering durable wins for working families.
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