Maine
History was against UPT and Republicans in Maine. Maine had never split its electoral vote for President in modern times. Maine had not cast an Electoral College vote for a Republican Presidential candidate in 28 years. And, Maine had not re-elected a Republican Congressman in Maine in 24 years.
However, by utilizing innovative technology systems and complex data, UPT and the Maine Republican Party were able to write history.
Donald Trump won Maine’s Second Congressional District with 52% of the vote over Hillary Clinton’s 41% and secured an Electoral College vote for President Trump. The victory, double the RCP average, came despite public polling’s prediction of a close race for President in ME 2 and despite the fact that Obama won the district 52%-44% over Romney in 2012 and 55%-43% over McCain in 2008.
While public polling predicted a dead heat through September and late October and with the RCP average at only +1.5 Poliquin, the Maine Republican Party also saw Congressman Bruce Poliquin re-elected with a resounding 10-point win.
In the State Senate, the Maine Republican Party re-elected a Republican majority for the first time in 36 years, despite losing a raft of incumbent Republican Senators to term limits or desire to not seek re-election. Arguably the biggest wins in the State Senate came through adverse territory, including unseating a well-liked three-term incumbent democrat in a region with heavy labor-union influence and unseating a two-term incumbent democrat in a very liberal coastal democrat stronghold.
In the State House, Republicans gained seats for the third consecutive year, a feat considered unthinkable over the past decade. In fact, Republicans were able to close the gap from a 9-seat democrat advantage to just 5 seats.
In addition to working with the Maine Republican Party, UPT also helped elect former State Representative Jarrod Crockett as Oxford County Probate Court Judge by winning a Republican Primary with 70% of the vote and the General Election by a margin of 56% - 44%.
However, by utilizing innovative technology systems and complex data, UPT and the Maine Republican Party were able to write history.
Donald Trump won Maine’s Second Congressional District with 52% of the vote over Hillary Clinton’s 41% and secured an Electoral College vote for President Trump. The victory, double the RCP average, came despite public polling’s prediction of a close race for President in ME 2 and despite the fact that Obama won the district 52%-44% over Romney in 2012 and 55%-43% over McCain in 2008.
While public polling predicted a dead heat through September and late October and with the RCP average at only +1.5 Poliquin, the Maine Republican Party also saw Congressman Bruce Poliquin re-elected with a resounding 10-point win.
In the State Senate, the Maine Republican Party re-elected a Republican majority for the first time in 36 years, despite losing a raft of incumbent Republican Senators to term limits or desire to not seek re-election. Arguably the biggest wins in the State Senate came through adverse territory, including unseating a well-liked three-term incumbent democrat in a region with heavy labor-union influence and unseating a two-term incumbent democrat in a very liberal coastal democrat stronghold.
In the State House, Republicans gained seats for the third consecutive year, a feat considered unthinkable over the past decade. In fact, Republicans were able to close the gap from a 9-seat democrat advantage to just 5 seats.
In addition to working with the Maine Republican Party, UPT also helped elect former State Representative Jarrod Crockett as Oxford County Probate Court Judge by winning a Republican Primary with 70% of the vote and the General Election by a margin of 56% - 44%.
Arkansas
As in Maine, UPT Strategies provided the phone systems and services for the Arkansas Republican Party. Working together with the Party’s leadership and staff, UPT understood the lofty goals that the party set for the cycle. Namely, Republicans wanted to win all federal races, 2/3 of the State Senate races and to get to 67 Republican State House members.
The systems and support offered to the party helped them achieve incredible successes including seeing President Trump win the state with over 60% of the vote, re-electing U.S. Senator John Boozman, and securing wins in all four Congressional races each by margins of more than 10%.
Additionally, the efforts yielded Republican victories over two incumbent democrat State Senators, an additional Republican victory in the third contested State Senate race, and picking up 10 new seats in the State House - giving Republicans a total of 74 seats in the body.
The systems and support offered to the party helped them achieve incredible successes including seeing President Trump win the state with over 60% of the vote, re-electing U.S. Senator John Boozman, and securing wins in all four Congressional races each by margins of more than 10%.
Additionally, the efforts yielded Republican victories over two incumbent democrat State Senators, an additional Republican victory in the third contested State Senate race, and picking up 10 new seats in the State House - giving Republicans a total of 74 seats in the body.
louisiana
A year after a democrat won the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion in a runoff against a Republican, the last federal election of 2016 pitted a Republican and a democrat in a runoff to represent Louisiana in the United States Senate. UPT Strategies was hired by the NRSC and contracted by the Louisiana Republican Party to lead voter contact efforts in South Louisiana.
Putting together a strong volunteer team and making 15,000 direct voter contacts in the few short weeks of the runoff, UPT was able to help draw a nearly 30% turnout and secure a 79%-21% victory for Senator John Kennedy in the targeted South Louisiana parishes.
Putting together a strong volunteer team and making 15,000 direct voter contacts in the few short weeks of the runoff, UPT was able to help draw a nearly 30% turnout and secure a 79%-21% victory for Senator John Kennedy in the targeted South Louisiana parishes.
south carolina
While 2016 started with the incredible opportunity of consulting Rand Paul’s Presidential campaign in South Carolina, it was a last-minute, surprise campaign that helped us win a national award.
One week. Budget of less than $100. Energetic and passionate, 20-year old college student, first-time candidate as a client. Write-in, countywide campaign. Largest county in square miles in the entire state. To say the odds were stacked against us would be an extreme understatement.
UPT knew that if there was any chance to elect the youngest public official in South Carolina, it would have to come by stretching the very limited budget as efficiently and effectively as possible on social media. Considering the time and budget restrains UPT faced, it was known that social media was the only possible platform to educate voters on Philip, his positions, the office, and the write-in campaign itself,
And, from the Facebook efforts, UPT was able to not only elect Phillip Habib as Commissioner in Berkeley County, but also give Phillip the distinction of being the youngest elected official in the state.
Despite an onslaught of outside attacks and challenges by multiple candidates, UPT was able to re-elect Katrina Shealy to the State Senate and see her become the first female to chair a standing committee in the South Carolina Senate. And, UPT’s work to share the progress and successes of State Senator Larry Grooms helped re-elect him to another term.
With only one day left to file for office, UPT received a call from a very energetic, passionate and successful businesswoman with the desire to make a difference for her state. Katie Arrington told the UPT team that she knew her first time running for office would be extremely difficult, especially since she was running in the primary against a local politician, who also recently chaired the county Republican Party; but Katie stressed her commitment to doing whatever it took to win.
While UPT devised a very aggressive grassroots plan and Katie was implementing it to every detail, the campaign was blind-sided by the endorsement of our opponent by the very popular governor, Nikki Haley with only a few weeks remaining in the campaign. UPT went into full-force with messaging and creative to limit the impact of the endorsement and to ensure voters knew that their decision and vote should not come from the political elites in Columbia. To that end, UPT utilized all paid mediums to push this idea, paint our opponent as part of the failed system, and stress the fact that Katie was a true outsider offering a new transparent, business approach to the issues the state faced. The strategy paid off, as Katie won the primary with nearly 60% of the vote and later won the general election by a 70% - 30% margin.
UPT also had the honor again of guiding the campaign efforts in South Carolina’s 114th District, the home district of UPT President Michael Mulé. While Lin Bennett has been a longtime UPT supporter and chair of the Charleston County Republican Party, she had never run for office before. And while the State House District historically had been in Republican control for quite some time, there actually was a democrat holding the seat when Lin entered the race. Through intense targeting efforts and a strong mail program, UPT helped Lin win election with over 60% of the vote.
Also in the South Carolina State House, UPT’s work for Representative Samuel Rivers ensured his re-election and continued service as the only African-American Republican in the entire South Carolina Legislature.
Despite a constant barrage of negative attacks from his recent Congressional candidate opponent who previously served three terms as Sheriff, Sheriff L. C. Knight was re-elected to office in Dorchester County. While numbers do not dominate most Sheriff elections, UPT’s use of crime statistics and budget numbers proved key in the race. Through an aggressive mail and phone program sharing such information, UPT helped drive-up turnout and secure the win for L. C.
To bring the 2016 highlights to a close, UPT’s efficient work with a limited budget elected Lewis Brown to the Darlington County Council by defeating an incumbent by a 72% - 28% margin.
One week. Budget of less than $100. Energetic and passionate, 20-year old college student, first-time candidate as a client. Write-in, countywide campaign. Largest county in square miles in the entire state. To say the odds were stacked against us would be an extreme understatement.
UPT knew that if there was any chance to elect the youngest public official in South Carolina, it would have to come by stretching the very limited budget as efficiently and effectively as possible on social media. Considering the time and budget restrains UPT faced, it was known that social media was the only possible platform to educate voters on Philip, his positions, the office, and the write-in campaign itself,
And, from the Facebook efforts, UPT was able to not only elect Phillip Habib as Commissioner in Berkeley County, but also give Phillip the distinction of being the youngest elected official in the state.
Despite an onslaught of outside attacks and challenges by multiple candidates, UPT was able to re-elect Katrina Shealy to the State Senate and see her become the first female to chair a standing committee in the South Carolina Senate. And, UPT’s work to share the progress and successes of State Senator Larry Grooms helped re-elect him to another term.
With only one day left to file for office, UPT received a call from a very energetic, passionate and successful businesswoman with the desire to make a difference for her state. Katie Arrington told the UPT team that she knew her first time running for office would be extremely difficult, especially since she was running in the primary against a local politician, who also recently chaired the county Republican Party; but Katie stressed her commitment to doing whatever it took to win.
While UPT devised a very aggressive grassroots plan and Katie was implementing it to every detail, the campaign was blind-sided by the endorsement of our opponent by the very popular governor, Nikki Haley with only a few weeks remaining in the campaign. UPT went into full-force with messaging and creative to limit the impact of the endorsement and to ensure voters knew that their decision and vote should not come from the political elites in Columbia. To that end, UPT utilized all paid mediums to push this idea, paint our opponent as part of the failed system, and stress the fact that Katie was a true outsider offering a new transparent, business approach to the issues the state faced. The strategy paid off, as Katie won the primary with nearly 60% of the vote and later won the general election by a 70% - 30% margin.
UPT also had the honor again of guiding the campaign efforts in South Carolina’s 114th District, the home district of UPT President Michael Mulé. While Lin Bennett has been a longtime UPT supporter and chair of the Charleston County Republican Party, she had never run for office before. And while the State House District historically had been in Republican control for quite some time, there actually was a democrat holding the seat when Lin entered the race. Through intense targeting efforts and a strong mail program, UPT helped Lin win election with over 60% of the vote.
Also in the South Carolina State House, UPT’s work for Representative Samuel Rivers ensured his re-election and continued service as the only African-American Republican in the entire South Carolina Legislature.
Despite a constant barrage of negative attacks from his recent Congressional candidate opponent who previously served three terms as Sheriff, Sheriff L. C. Knight was re-elected to office in Dorchester County. While numbers do not dominate most Sheriff elections, UPT’s use of crime statistics and budget numbers proved key in the race. Through an aggressive mail and phone program sharing such information, UPT helped drive-up turnout and secure the win for L. C.
To bring the 2016 highlights to a close, UPT’s efficient work with a limited budget elected Lewis Brown to the Darlington County Council by defeating an incumbent by a 72% - 28% margin.