TRENTON, N.J. — Brandon Straka, founder of the #WalkAway movement, has launched a campaign effort in 2025 aimed at shifting voter sentiment in two Democratic strongholds—New Jersey and Virginia—as both states gear up for closely watched gubernatorial races.
Straka is focusing his outreach on minority communities and college students, aiming to sway just 5% of traditional Democratic voters to consider alternatives in the upcoming elections. He has announced plans for town halls, rallies, and college campus events across both states in a bid to engage voters in person.
“These groups have been voting Democrat for generations,” Straka said. “And for decades, people in these communities have seen their lives decline, not improve. Neighborhoods are going downhill. Crime is surging. Cost of living is unaffordable for everyday people.”
Straka argues that frustration with issues such as the economy, crime, and immigration has left segments of the Democratic base more open to change. His strategy emphasizes direct voter contact and messaging around what he calls the “broken promises” of the Democratic Party.
The #WalkAway campaign, which began in 2018, has grown to more than 750,000 members according to its organizers. The movement encourages former Democratic voters to share personal stories explaining why they left the party, with many citing disillusionment over media narratives and policy outcomes.
#WalkAway campaign expands in battleground states
In April, Straka led a #WalkAway march through West Hollywood and has since participated in roundtable discussions with minority groups across the country. He is also scheduled to appear at a series of panel events at colleges in both New Jersey and Virginia.
The campaign’s grassroots approach differs from traditional political operations. Straka has continued to rely on in-person engagement, testimonial-driven messaging, and social media to build momentum for his cause.
Straka has been a recurring speaker at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) since 2019 and maintains a visible presence among conservative advocacy networks. His latest efforts mark a new phase of political organizing, moving beyond general federal elections into specific state-level contests.
With the governor’s races in New Jersey and Virginia expected to be competitive, Straka’s push to reframe the political conversation in minority and youth communities could prove influential if even modest voter shifts occur.