Podcast Summary: Digital Social Hour Episode: How Deja Foxx Raised $700K in 90 Days 🔥 I DSH #1439
Release Date: July 9, 2025
Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Deja Foxx

1. Introduction to Deja Foxx's Campaign

In this compelling episode of Digital Social Hour, host Sean Kelly engages in an in-depth conversation with Deja Foxx, a young and dynamic candidate running in a special congressional election in Arizona. The discussion centers around Deja's remarkable achievement of raising $700,000 in just 90 days, primarily through small-dollar donations.

Notable Quote:

[00:27] B: "Deja Fox here. Big couple weeks coming up for her, so thanks for making the time. I'm sure you're staying up all night these days."

[00:39] A: "We have a special election July 15, so we're in the final stretch."

2. Fundraising Strategy and Success

Deja Foxx attributes her fundraising success to innovative, grassroots strategies. Starting with no email list or phone numbers, she built her campaign entirely from her bedroom, leveraging social media to connect with voters.

Key Points:

• Raised over $700,000 in three months.
• 99% of donations came from small-dollar donors, averaging $27.73 each.
• Utilized social media platforms and personal storytelling to engage supporters.

Notable Quote:

[00:53] A: "I was literally filling out my candidate paperwork alone in my bedroom on April 2nd. That was like 90 days ago. And in the span of those three months, we have raised over $700,000, and 99% of our donors are small dollar donors."

3. Grassroots Engagement and Storytelling

Deja emphasizes the importance of personal connection with voters. By sharing her own experiences and actively engaging with supporters on platforms like TikTok and Substack, she has built a strong, loyal base.

Key Points:

• Direct communication through social media allows her to understand and address voters' concerns.
• Stories from donors highlight their struggles and motivations for supporting her campaign.
• Emphasizes accountability and representation for families similar to her own.

Notable Quote:

[02:26] A: "These are folks who on Substack Live will let me know they're barely making rent, but they are gonna cash in their coin jar to be in this fight with us."

4. Challenges of the Special Election

Running in a special election presented unique challenges, including limited time for filing and campaigning. Deja discusses how early voting and the absence of established candidates impacted the race.

Key Points:

• Special election triggered by the death of the incumbent in March.
• Limited time frame of approximately 100 days to run the campaign.
• Early voting began on June 18th, before all candidates filed and fundraising data was available.

Notable Quote:

[01:17] A: "It's a special election because my member of Congress died in March, leaving a vacancy and giving us about 100 days to run this race."

5. Policy Positions and Advocacy

Deja Foxx is a staunch advocate for healthcare as a human right and opposes the current Republican budget bill that threatens to cut essential social services. She articulates her vision for equitable healthcare and comprehensive support systems.

Key Points:

• Supports Medicare for All.
• Advocates for access to abortion and comprehensive sex education.
• Opposes policies that impose work requirements on healthcare eligibility.

Notable Quote:

[17:36] A: "I believe that health care is a human right and that includes access to abortion. I believe in Medicare for all in one of the richest countries in the world."

6. Opposition to Current Budget Bill

A significant portion of the conversation revolves around Deja's opposition to a proposed budget bill that would reduce funding for social services, impacting Medicaid, food stamps, and other essential programs.

Key Points:

• The budget bill threatens to strip healthcare and social support from thousands in Arizona.
• Deja highlights personal and community stories affected by these potential cuts.
• Criticizes the bill as a massive wealth transfer favoring billionaires over struggling families.

Notable Quotes:

[10:55] A: "This is the kind of stuff that balloons the debt lines the pockets of billionaires at the expense of families like the one that raised me right."
[20:59] B: "So millions of people will lose their health care. Wow, I didn't know that."
[21:07] A: "That is the kind of barriers they're trying to erect between working class folks and basic human rights like healthcare."

7. Personal Background and Activism

Deja shares her inspiring personal journey from growing up in challenging circumstances to becoming an activist and political candidate. Her early involvement in advocacy work showcases her long-standing commitment to social justice.

Key Points:

• Raised by a single mother in Section 8 housing, reliant on food stamps and Medicaid.
• Began activism at age 15, fighting for better sex education.
• First viral moment at 16 challenging Senator Jeff Flake on Planned Parenthood funding.

Notable Quote:

[09:24] A: "I was running against one of my school board members in this congressional race. But that being said, I scaled up my work."
[13:20] B: "You'll be the youngest one if you pull this off. That's right, right."

8. Use of Social Media and Digital Strategies

Deja highlights how modern digital tools have revolutionized political campaigning. Her experience working on Kamala Harris's 2020 campaign provided her with valuable skills in leveraging social media influencers and surrogate strategists.

Key Points:

• Utilizes TikTok, Instagram, and Substack to engage with voters.
• Employs storytelling and authentic dialogue to build trust and support.
• Substack allows for deeper, uncensored communication on essential campaign issues.

Notable Quote:

[28:52] B: "Are you on the TikTok live wave?"
[28:54] A: "I try to be. We go live from a lot of our campaign stops."

9. Future Steps and How to Support

Deja outlines the next steps in her campaign, encouraging listeners to support her through volunteering, donating, and spreading the word. She emphasizes the importance of collective effort to achieve meaningful change.

Key Points:

• Encourages signing up to volunteer both locally in Southern Arizona and virtually.
• Promotes her online platforms for updates and deeper engagement.
• Continues to focus on small-dollar donations to maintain campaign independence.

Notable Quote:

[29:43] B: "Well done. What's next for you? Where can people support you and follow your journey?"
[29:47] A: "You can sign up to volunteer if you're in Southern Arizona. Knock the doors with me. ... You can do phone banking, text banking. Sign up@AsiaFox.com or you feel really compelled. You can pitch in."

Conclusion

Deja Foxx's journey is a testament to the power of grassroots activism and the impact of authentic storytelling in modern political campaigns. By leveraging social media and maintaining a steadfast commitment to her principles, Deja has successfully mobilized a diverse and dedicated supporter base. Her candidacy embodies the shift towards a more inclusive and representative political landscape, challenging traditional norms and paving the way for future generations of leaders.

Final Notable Quote:

[30:31] B: "Yep. Check her out, guys. See you next time. Sam."

For more information or to support Deja Foxx’s campaign, visit AsiaFox.com and follow her on TikTok, Instagram, Substack, and Facebook.