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No Kings Shifts Focus to Voting Early
· Confirmed
In Short: The No Kings coalition, which has organized previous anti-Trump protests, shifted its focus to voter mobilization on 'No Kings: Vote Early' day, held on October 17, 2026.
The No Kings coalition, which has organized previous anti-Trump protests, shifted its focus to voter mobilization on 'No Kings: Vote Early' day, held on October 17, 2026.
Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, one of the major organizations within the No Kings network, said, 'The first three No Kings were designed to send a message,' but now the coalition wants people to vote.
Organizers of the 'No Kings: Vote Early' day of action urged Americans to vote early in the November 3 midterm elections, aiming to fire up voters to cast their ballots.
The nationwide push to vote marks a pivot for the No Kings coalition, which comprises hundreds of partner organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Black Voters Matter.
In Alexandria, Virginia, protesters gathered to encourage early voting, with some, like 26-year-old environmental engineer Nayely Cruz Hernandez, urging voters to 'vote blue' and 'take the power away from Trump, from the Republicans.'
Hernandez's message directly contradicted the national No Kings organization's rules for the protests to be nonpartisan.
In Salt Lake City, Utah, organizers added a 'Fascist Fighter Fun Run' to encourage protesters to dress up and turn in their ballots early.
Organizers emphasized the importance of voter participation, with one protester saying, 'I'm hoping to see a lot of these corrupt politicians come to justice.'
The shift from protest to voter mobilization reflects a strategic change in the No Kings coalition's approach.
The nationwide push to vote early was aimed at getting people out to vote early in the midterm elections, with organizers pushing voters to cast their ballots now.
What this adds
The No Kings coalition's shift to voter mobilization reflects a strategic change from previous anti-Trump protests.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Utahns participated in the 'No Kings' day of protests, with organizers adding a 'Fascist Fighter Fun Run' to encourage protesters to dress up and turn in their ballots early.
Background
The No Kings coalition, which has organized previous anti-Trump protests, shifted its focus to voter mobilization on 'No Kings: Vote Early' day.
What's confirmed
- "The first three No Kings were designed to send a message," said Ezra Levin, the co-founder of Indivisible — one of the major organizations within the No Kings network.
- While some protests, like the one on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, were reminiscent of the first three No Kings rallies — with signs blasting Trump and his administration's actions — other events focused on spreading information to community members on how to vote.
- "I studied checks and balances in school for this."
- The nationwide push to vote marks a pivot for the No Kings coalition, which comprises hundreds of partner organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Black Voters Matter.
- "It's a day of nonpartisan voter participation: we are bringing our community together to make a plan to vote early and ensuring every eligible voter understands their options for how to vote and has the opportunity to make their voice heard," organizers said in a statement.
- Nadine Seiler, a self-described "professional protester" recently mentioned by Trump, was asked whether she agreed with organizers' insistence that the demonstration was nonpartisan.
- "I'm hoping to see a lot of these corrupt politicians come to justice," Scire said.
What's still developing
- Next to both of them: a sign reading "VOTE EARLY." The donkey, the floating head and the voting sign were all part of the "No Kings: Vote Early" day of action.
- "What are we here to do? Vote! When we vote together? We win!"
- Another focus for No Kings groups was getting volunteers trained as poll watchers.
- "So we got to win the House, we got to win the Senate, not only in Virginia, but across the country." Standing beside her boyfriend, Noah Schwarzott, 25, their 13-year-old Maltese-poodle, Maybellene, in her arms, Hernandez acknowledged that national No Kings organizers had their own rules for the protests to be "nonpartisan," but she wasn't following orders.
- By Nicholas Ballasy Published: October 17, 2026 4:59pm Article Dig Deeper Anti-Trump "No Kings" protests are taking place in cities across the country on Saturday.
- Holiday Gift Guide Donate Marketplace Breadcrumb Home Politics & Policy Elections Anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ protests taking place across nation Protestors are trying to rally Democrats to turn out to vote early before Election Day.
- Nomani/Fox News Digital) Her comments directly contradicted the written instructions of the national "No Kings" organization and its leaders at the Indivisible nonprofit, prohibiting calls to "vote Blue," elect Democrats or endorse candidates and target individuals.
- “You don’t see Superman giving up his power,” Bond continued.
- From Washington City to Logan, Utahns showed up Saturday for the fourth nationwide “No Kings” day of protests — but this time, participants voted, too.
- The timing of the national event was “incredible” for Utah, organizer Jamie Carter said, as mail-in ballots began arriving at homes Tuesday. (Trevor Christensen | The Salt Lake Tribune) People march from the Utah Capitol to the Salt Lake City Main Library in Salt Lake City on Oct. 17, 2026, during a “No Kings” demonstration focused on encouraging voters to turn in their ballots early.
- Washington – Carrying an umbrella painted with the words “vote, power, people,” retired teacher Sabine Carlson said the lesson plan for Saturday’s “No King” marches was clear.
- Jessica Wiarda, a member of the Hopi tribe, told the crowd, 'The threat that is coming for our public lands demands us to not only come together, but to defend what we have left.' The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Utahns participated in the 'No Kings' day of protests, with organizers adding a 'Fascist Fighter Fun Run' to encourage protesters to dress up and turn in their ballots early.