This Is The Plan
How to End America's Meltdown and Save Democracy
-
- Pre-Order
-
- Expected Jul 21, 2026
-
- $14.99
-
- Pre-Order
-
- $14.99
Publisher Description
"Ben Wikler is one of the most strategic and respected leaders of his generation. If we do what this book says, we will win."—Nancy Pelosi
From the most successful Democratic operative of the last decade, a revelatory account of what you—yes, you—can do to defeat Trumpism.
If you are looking at the spiraling crisis of American politics in the Trump era and wondering how the hell we get out of this mess, This Is the Plan is the book you’ve been waiting for.
Ben Wikler led the Democratic Party of Wisconsin to a string of improbable victories in a state with a political system so rigged that it was dubbed a “democracy desert”—which is, coincidentally, Trump’s goal for the whole country.
Now, in This Is the Plan, Wikler distills lessons from the front lines in America’s most closely divided state to map out a comprehensive plan to dictator-proof American government, defeat MAGA at every level of the ballot, and build a future of democracy, opportunity, and freedom for all.
It will be a blast. The plan is to, as he writes, “have fun storming the castle—in a civil, metaphorical, and non-January-6th-y way.”
Drawing on decades of organizing, from local races (including a race for county coroner that hinged on the issue of zombification) to presidential showdowns, Wikler brings us behind the scenes to explore the hidden structures of power that shape our politics and our lives, and takes us into the art and science of winning elections. As he details a people-powered path out of the political wilderness, Wikler reveals what you personally can do to move the needle.
This Is the Plan reveals, year by year and step by step, a vision not only to end America’s collapse into authoritarianism but also to reconnect us to our neighbors—and, fighting side by side for democracy, to build meaning, community, and joy.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this invigorating debut guide to protecting American democracy, political strategist Wikler mines election history and his own experience as a Democratic organizer for inspiration for the upcoming midterm election and beyond. Having spent six years as the chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Wikler suggests that the state "offers a template for the national road map out of billionaire-backed antidemocratic GOP takeover." Describing Wisconsin's recent successes in blocking Republican-driven gerrymandering and voter suppression, Wikler uses the state as a lens to analyze current challenges facing the U.S. House of Representatives, Senate, federal courts, and Democratic Party. He argues that state and local organizing is the strongest path toward fighting federal corruption, and that rather than creating a robust nationwide platform, Democrats "don't need a fifty-state strategy—we need fifty state strategies, one for each state, based on the different laws and obstacles in that particular place." While he does promote specific policies like the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact and eliminating the filibuster, Wikler heavily prioritizes strategic, community-centric, person-to-person organizing, suggesting the way to "beat the politics of fear is by helping people realize they are powerful." His savvy political commentary is peppered with corny dad jokes and The Princess Bride references that lighten the mood and provide a Midwestern sense of friendly optimism. It's a pragmatic resource for seasoned organizers and budding activists alike.
