Idahoans from all walks of life, from all over the 2nd District, are coming together to discuss issues and find out that politics isn't just about big money and slick ads. It can be about talking to people and working together to improve our state and our country.
When you tell others about Jim and his views, you are building this campaign. Whether you decide to host a house party, make phone calls, write a letter to the editor or just talk to your neighbors and friends, you are making a real difference in our community.

This page has lots of great ways to get involved. If you have new ideas to share or know an activity you don't see here, send them to us. Thank you!

Sign up for door-knocking
Neighborhood canvassing is one of the most important thing you can do. This is a grassroots campaign, and we are going to win by knocking on doors and meeting new people. We need your help, so please volunteer for a shift today. Our volunteer canvassers usually go out for 2 to 3 hours at a time. We make sure you are well-prepared with instruction and support. No previous experience required!

Host a house party
You have lots of friends, family, neighbors and co-workers, right? Invite them to a house party for Jim and help us expand our base of volunteers and raise money. These gatherings are indispensable to our grassroots strategy and we have a lot of fun, too.

We can send you our instruction packet or give us a call and let us know you are interested. Our house party coordinator will contact you. Be sure to give us your phone number.

Write a letter to the editor
The editorial page is one of the most read pages in many papers. Writing a letter to the editor is your chance to correct any biases or mistakes you may have seen in recent news coverage, or to state your support for Jim and why he should be elected to Congress. Writing an effective letter is a great way to help the campaign. Check out the tips section on this page for pointers about increasing your chances of being published.

Carry donation envelopes
This campaign is about people talking to people. Carrying donation envelopes is a great way to engage people in conversation and empower them to make a real difference in their community. We all want to help our country, but many of us don't know how. This is an important campaign and your friend will appreciate that you've asked them to join you in supporting something you care about.

Ask us to send you some donation envelopes. Start with a realistic number, maybe 10, and give yourself a goal of, say, two weeks. You can put your initials in the corner and ask us to track how many were returned. With your help, we can build a strong grassroots campaign, one person at a time.

To request donation envelopes, send us your name, address and phone number (even if we already have them). Type "Donation Envelopes" in the subject heading of an e-mail. We'll get them out to you right away.

Help out in the office
We need help daily in our offices in Boise, Pocatello and Idaho Falls. Contact us and we can schedule a regular time or just a few hours to do vital duties. Either way, it will be a big help to the campaign.

Are you handy with computers? We need web-saavy volunteers to help us keep our online content new and exciting on a daily basis and to help us reach more people with the internet.

Editor, Idaho State Journal:
    There is a clear contrast between the two candidates for U.S. Congress in the 2nd District. Jim Hansen, a former Idaho legislator, has worked for open and accountable government as the founding director of United Vision for Idaho, a nationally honored organization. Four-term Mike Simpson has consistently voted to weaken the voice of ordinary Idahoans by siding with the interests of Big Money.
    Simpson voted for the 2005 energy bill, which will have a negligible effect on our dependence on foreign oil. Using the energy crisis as an excuse, the legislation rolls back environmental protections, weakens the government's ability to stop corporate fraud and gives tax breaks to traditional energy industries (his No. 2 source of campaign contributions.). Simpson even voted against an amendment to increase fuel economy standards in new cars.
    Jim Hansen has dedicated his life to fighting political corruption and promoting democracy. He will be accountable to you and me, not wealthy special interests. I urge you to join me in voting for Jim Hansen for Congress on Nov. 7.

Editor, Idaho Statesman:
    A recent Idaho Statesman article reported that the number of Idahoans without health insurance has increased 11.6 percent since 2000. Unfortunately, our current congressional leaders have swept this crisis under the rug while still accepting campaign contributions from big insurance and pharmaceutical companies. Idaho's second district congressional candidate, Jim Hansen, believes Congress' lack of action regarding health care reform is a direct result of dependence on these big campaign contributors.
    Throughout this political campaign, Jim Hansen has kept his promise to limit campaign contributions to $100 per contributor, per election. Without the burden of having to "pay-back" PACs and other major contributors, Hansen will focus exclusively on what is best for the people of Idaho.
    As a health care provider and loyal Idahoan, I strongly support Jim Hansen for Congress.

Editor, Idaho State Journal:
    Jim Hansen is a down-to-earth person. He is not slick. He is not rich. In short, he is the kind of person who should run for Congress. Lucky for Idaho, he is. I met Jim a few weeks ago at a small gathering of local Democrats. His articulate style and big-picture thinking about issues like immigration and tax policy impress me. But most impressive of all is his refusal to take more than $100 from any single donor.
    That means no corporate money and no PAC money. It also means he has to campaign the old-fashioned way: door-to-door and word-of-mouth. You won't see him on TV much, but you will see him where candidates belong — in small-town cafes and local senior centers talking and listening.
    I have been put off by politics for many years, but Jim's commitment to people instead of corporations and special interests was refreshing. I urge you to support Jim's campaign. Together we can send an Idahoan to Washington who is free from the burden of corporate favors and free to represent the interests of our state and country.