Jo Comerford Campaign, Custom WordPress | Cider House

A digital movement powered by grassroots action | Jo Comerford

In 2018, Jo Comerford made history with a successful write-in campaign for the Massachusetts State Senate. With no name on the ballot, she mobilized thousands of voters to spell her name by handโ€”and win. We built the campaign website that helped make it possible.

Everything working together, with urgency and strategy

At a glance - Snapshot details

  • Client: Jo Comerfordโ€™s Campaign
  • Industry: Political Campaigns / Government
  • Business type: State Senate campaign
  • Primary office: Northampton, Massachusetts
  • Service area: Hampshire, Franklin, and Worcester District
  • Platform: WordPress
  • Services: Web design, campaign content strategy, donation integration, volunteer management, responsive design

The website behind a historic write-in victory

In May 2018, Jo Comerford launched a last-minute campaign for State Senate after the incumbent resigned. With no time to get on the ballot, she ran as a write-inโ€”relying on a strong digital platform to educate voters, recruit volunteers, and raise funds.

Challenge

Running a write-in campaign isnโ€™t just difficultโ€”itโ€™s rare to succeed. Voters had to physically write โ€œJo Comerfordโ€ on their ballot, correctly and legibly. That meant education was critical. The campaign had to reach thousands of voters quickly, teach them how to vote, and activate hundreds of volunteersโ€”all without the advantages of a printed name or traditional infrastructure.

Solution

We built a responsive, high-impact website to function as the campaignโ€™s digital command center.

  • Custom Campaign Hub: Designed a clean, persuasive website to house Joโ€™s platform, biography, press, and calls to action
  • Voter Education Tools: Developed instructional graphics and guides on the write-in process to reduce ballot errors
  • Volunteer Management: Created recruitment and scheduling tools to support canvassing, phone banks, and outreach
  • Donation Integration: Connected secure donation platforms for quick online fundraising
  • Mobile Optimization: Ensured all content, forms, and guides worked seamlessly on mobile to support canvassers and on-the-go voters

Results

This digital strategy was instrumental in Jo Comerfordโ€™s historic win.

  • 14,196 Write-In Votes: Jo won the Democratic primary with more than double the write-in votes of her competitors
  • Effective Voter Education: Thousands of voters submitted accurate write-ins thanks to the siteโ€™s visual guides
  • Over 650 Volunteers: The platform helped organize hundreds of grassroots supporters across the district
  • Sustained Momentum: The campaign raised critical funds and stayed connected throughout the entire race

Jo Comerford later credited the siteโ€™s clarity and usability as key factors in the campaignโ€™s success.

This project is also highlighted on our Western Massachusetts web design page, where we feature sites that drive civic impact and community action.

Map

This wasnโ€™t just a websiteโ€”it was a digital tool for civic engagement. Weโ€™re proud to have supported a campaign that rewrote the playbook and brought people together across an entire district.

Full-service, extra creative

Every business is differentโ€”so everything we offer is built to fit. Pick what you need, or let us whip up a full course.

Branding
  • Brand Storytelling
  • Visual Brand &. Rebranding
  • Personal Branding
  • Brand Voice Development
  • Logo Design
  • Corporate Identity (ID)
  • Tagline and Slogan Development
  • Marketing Collateral Design
Web Design
  • Custom WordPress Design
  • UIUX Design
  • eCommerce Design
  • Website Redesign and Refresh
  • Website Accessibility
  • Responsive Website Design
Digital Marketing
  • Social Media Management
  • Pay-Per-Click Management
  • Content Marketing
  • Analytics and Performance Tracking
  • Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
Development
  • WordPress Development
  • Custom Web Application Development
  • eCommerce Development (WooCommerce)
  • Page Speed Optimization
  • API Integration for Third-Party Tools
SEO
  • SEO Audit Services
  • Local SEO for Small Businesses
  • Technical SEO
  • On-Page and Off-Page SEO
  • Content Strategy & Optimization
  • Image Optimization

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Want to see what weโ€™re capable of? These projects highlight the range of services and styles we bring to the table.

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