LGBTQ+ Chicagoans are heading to neighboring battleground states to mobilize voters and help Democrats win in competitive races in the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Q Force, a local grassroots organizing group, is ramping up its canvassing efforts in Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa as Election Day approaches, recruiting volunteers for weekend trips to support Democratic candidates in closely contested races.
Greg O’Neill, a Q Force co-chair, said the group is focused on helping Democrats gain control of Congress, emphasizing that voter turnout will be critical to their success in November.
“Some of the polls are really close, but it’s not a foregone conclusion,” O’Neill said. “All you’ve got to do is give us a day—or even part of a day—between now and Election Day to help make a difference.”
Q force’s efforts are primarily concentrated in southwest Michigan, where volunteers are supporting Democratic candidates in several key races. They include the U.S. Senate contest between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers, as well as the 4th Congressional District race, where Democratic state Sen. Sean McCann is challenging Republican incumbent Bill Huizenga.
The group is also expanding into Iowa, a state O’Neill said would not ordinarily have been on the group’s radar. Volunteers are heading to Dubuque on Oct. 17 to canvas in support of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek, who is challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, and other Democratic candidates.
In Wisconsin, Q force is partnering with organizations including Operation Swing State and Indivisible Chicago to support canvassing efforts for the governor’s race and other down-ballot contests.
O’Neill said the organization is hoping to build on its previous efforts in neighboring states. The group started organizing canvassing trips to southwest Michigan in 2020, before adopting the Q Force name, and expanded into southeast Wisconsin during the 2024 presidential election.
During the 2020 election, O’Neill said volunteers canvassed in Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, Michigan, helping turn out voters who had not participated in an election since Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign in 2008.
Turnout in the areas where volunteers canvassed was 5% higher than the statewide turnout, O’Neill said, pointing to a local election in southwest Michigan that a Democrat won by just a few votes in 2020. He said the narrow margin illustrates how even one volunteer’s efforts can make a difference.
“So many of the races get decided by a percentage point or less,” O’Neill said.
Now, Q force is asking LGBTQ+ Chicagoans to contribute to its 2026 midterm election efforts.
Volunteers can participate in day trips to Iowa on Oct. 17 and Michigan on Oct. 24, with additional canvassing planned in southwest Michigan from Nov. 1-3.
For those who have never canvassed before, O’Neill said the process is designed to be accessible. Volunteers receive training and briefings on the candidates and issues they may encounter, and first-time canvassers are encouraged to pair up with more experienced volunteers.
“We’re not looking to get into adversarial conversations with people at all,” O’Neill said.
Canvassers generally visit households identified as likely Democratic supporters, encouraging residents to vote and providing information about the election. When nobody answers the door, volunteers can leave campaign literature.
Those who are uncomfortable knocking on doors can help in other ways, including driving volunteers, phone banking or text banking.
Q Force helps coordinate carpools from Chicago and is offering $50 gas cards to drivers and lunch for volunteers. For its final canvassing push in Michigan, the organization has also arranged discounted lodging at $60 per night for volunteers who want to stay overnight.
Anyone interested in volunteering, arranging transportation or learning more about upcoming canvassing trips can visit the Q Force website to sign up.
“Our rights are at stake,” O’Neill said. “We need legislators who will protect our rights and help advance them. We shouldn’t expect anyone else to do it on our behalf.”