Strategic Communication Plan

MCOM 651: Research Paper Topic Proposal

Due Wednesday, February 21

Blessing T. Oluwadare for Congress

I propose to write a strategic communications plan for Blessing T. Oluwadare.

Oluwadare was born as a Nigerian native but moved to the United States after winning the American visa lottery in 2012. This significant milestone led her to renounce her Nigerian citizenship and become an American citizen (Blessing T. Oluwadare for Congress, 2023).

Now, Oluwadare is running as a Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress, House Maryland District 1 in the 2024 election year. Her opponents in the election season are Blane Miller III and Issac Toyos (Ballotpedia, 2024).

Oluwadare's mission for Maryland is "to fight for our most vulnerable communities, protect working families and ensure the opportunity of the Maryland dream for all without discrimination of gender, age, or races" (Blessing T. Oluwadare for Congress, 2023). Based on Oluwadare's mission, she aims to protect families in the communities by providing them with the needed resources without discrimination.

In a similar vein, Oluwadare's mission resonates with me. As an African American woman who has Nigerian roots, I feel a connection to her story. Oluwadare's story also caught my attention because she attends a church in Edgewood, Maryland, which I hold fond memories of from my childhood in that community. Imagine the impact it could make for someone who is involved in politics and shares similar identities with Oluwadare. To me, that is what makes a winning candidate. While I am not too involved in politics, I believe that a candidate like Oluwadare has the potential to make a significant impact.

As the only female on the ballot, more specifically a Black female, Oluwadare stands out in this election compared to two male candidates who are White and Black. According to research, identifying the majority of female and male voters is critical to determining which groups have the formal and informal resources and opportunities necessary for a candidate to win an election (Sanbonmatsu, 2020). I would like to explore racial and gender bias in the political system and how that plays into voter decision-making. And I also think it is important to address the impact of Oluwadare being a Nigerian Native-Born and how that may impact the election.

Oluwadare's journey from Nigeria to the United States is a testament to her determination and resilience. Her decision to run for Congress reflects her commitment to making a positive impact and representing the constituents of District 1.

It is my hope that my strategic communication plan for Oluwadare will help her stand out against her opponents in the political system with her unique background and experience that may shape her campaign.

References

Ballotpedia. (2024). Blessing Oluwadare. https://ballotpedia.org/Blessing_Oluwadare.

Blessing T. Oluwadare for Congress. (2023). Meet Blessing. https://blessingforcongress.com/.

Kira Sanbonmatsu; Women's Underrepresentation in the U.S. Congress. Daedalus 2020; 149 (1): 40–55. doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/daed_a_01772.

Feedback from professor:

Your proposal is approved. Please save this email and attach it to your final paper. Write this communication plan as if you are working on Oluwadare's campaign.

Other research you want to do for this project:

1. How much money has Oluwadare raised? (Look at her campaign finance forms.)

2. Who is the current congressperson from District 1 and how long has he been in office? How much money does he have for the campaign?

3. What are the demographics of the district? What is the partisan breakdown? In other words, how many registered Democrats, Republicans, and Independents live in this district?

4. What are the positions of Oluwadare's opponents in the race? How can those positions be exploited to help her win the Democratic nomination?

5. What are Oluwadare's potential weaknesses and what can she do to compensate for them?

6. District 1 is heavily Republican (the only Republican district in Maryland). What does a Democrat have to do to win in this district?

7. How did this district vote for president in the 2020 election? How might that impact your strategic communication plan?

As you do your research, keep two things in mind. First, Oluwadare has to first win the Democratic nomination in the 1st District. Second, if she wins the nomination, then Oluwadare will campaign against Andy Harris, the Republican who has represented the 1st District for several years.

The nomination will be decided during the state's May 14 primary. Your communication plan should be designed to help her win the primary. However, in designing your communication plan, you have to keep the November General Election in mind. You do not want to do anything during the primary campaign – which is geared toward Democratic voters only – that might alienate the Independents and moderate Republicans she will need to win the General Election.