A telephone townhall public affairs campaign can help organizations educate constituents, build grassroots support, and identify advocates at scale. That was exactly the challenge facing a Kansas-based public affairs organization working to build support for extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).
The organization needed a way to educate constituents, build support, and identify advocates without spending months on a traditional awareness campaign.
Their solution was a telephone townhall.
The Challenge: Reaching Disengaged Constituents
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law in 2017, but years later many voters had moved on from the policy debate.
At the same time, Kansas had become increasingly competitive politically, making grassroots support even more important for influencing lawmakers.
The organization knew that if they wanted constituents to take action in the future, they first needed to reconnect voters with the policy and remind them how it affected their daily lives.
However, traditional outreach methods often struggle to break through the noise.
Digital ads are easy to ignore. Email open rates can be unpredictable. Direct mail can be expensive.
The organization needed a faster and more direct way to start a conversation with thousands of people.
The Solution: A Telephone Townhall Featuring Congressman Ron Estes
CampaignHQ worked with the organization to execute a large-scale telephone townhall that connected Kansans directly with Congressman Ron Estes, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.
The event reached a targeted audience of 70,000 Kansas residents.
During the call, Rep. Estes explained how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act impacted families and businesses, including provisions such as lower taxes, an increased standard deduction, and policies designed to encourage economic growth.
Just as importantly, participants had the opportunity to hear directly from a policymaker and engage with the issue in a way that felt personal and accessible.
Rather than consuming political information through headlines or social media posts, attendees were able to hear detailed explanations and receive answers to common questions.
The Results
The telephone townhall generated strong engagement across the targeted audience.
Key results included:
- 70,000 targeted constituents reached
- 6,163 participants joined the event
- 8.8% participation rate
- 8-minute average listen time
- $1.17 cost per attendee
- 100% of poll respondents agreed the TCJA should be made permanent after hearing the discussion
The eight-minute average listen time was particularly notable. In today’s crowded media environment, holding attention for that length of time demonstrates that constituents were actively engaged with the content.
The event also provided valuable audience data through polling, allowing the organization to identify supporters and build a stronger grassroots network for future advocacy efforts.
Why Telephone Townhalls Work for Public Affairs Campaigns
One of the biggest challenges in public affairs is moving people from awareness to action.
Before supporters will contact lawmakers, sign petitions, attend events, or participate in advocacy efforts, they first need to understand the issue.
Telephone townhalls create an environment where organizations can educate large audiences at scale while also creating a sense of personal connection.
Unlike many outreach tactics, a telephone townhall combines the reach of mass communication with the engagement of a live event. Participants can hear directly from elected officials, policy experts, and organizational leaders while remaining in the comfort of their homes.
For public affairs organizations looking to build support around complex policy issues, that combination can be incredibly effective.
Building Grassroots Support Through Direct Engagement
In this case, the telephone townhall helped transform a policy discussion into a direct conversation with constituents.
By combining a trusted messenger, a targeted audience, and a live interactive format, the organization was able to educate voters, identify supporters, and strengthen its grassroots network.
Most importantly, it accomplished those goals quickly and cost-effectively.
When public affairs campaigns need to cut through the noise and build support around important issues, telephone townhalls remain one of the most powerful tools available.