Tanis is a 21-year-old canvasser from Ohio who participates in both student canvassing deployments and works full-time with our Ohio field team. With over 3 years of experience canvassing for SBA Pro-Life America, he takes part in every deployment opportunity he can. To date, he has canvassed in Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Kansas.
We spoke with Tanis to learn about his unique experience as a pro-life canvasser and the impact he’s making in Ohio by engaging with voters at their homes.
SBA: Can you share your background regarding the pro-life issue? When did you first identify as pro-life?
Tanis: I grew up in a non-denominational Christian environment, which shaped my pro-life views even before I fully understood abortion. Later, I converted to Catholicism and attended a Catholic college where my passion for the issue deepened. During my freshman year, I got involved with SBA, and as I learned more about the cause, my commitment to protecting babies and supporting women grew even stronger. That’s how I got to where I am today.
SBA: Why did you choose to canvass with SBA?
Tanis: I decided to canvass with SBA after a friend invited me to a deployment in Milwaukee during my first semester of college. Since I’m really passionate about the pro-life movement, I was excited to make a difference. My first deployment had around 80 students, and the training I got, along with my enthusiasm helped me jump right in as an effective canvasser. It was such a rewarding experience that I kept coming back for more whenever SBA had other canvassing opportunities.
I’ve heard about other people canvassing for different organizations, but everyone I know who’s worked with other pro-life or conservative groups prefers SBA. Their solid funding really allows them to do professional canvassing and prepare us well to spread the pro-life message effectively.
SBA: How would you describe the job of a canvasser?
Tanis: Mainly, the job of a canvasser is to inform people about the pro-life issue and explain why they should support pro-life candidates. While some of our conversations aim to change minds, there are also individuals who aren’t ready for that at the door. In those cases, it’s important to provide them with information, share why supporting pro-life candidates matters, and plant the seed for future consideration. We also help people who need absentee ballots or info on how to vote pro-life. Ultimately, it’s all about spreading awareness and helping voters understand the actual positions of both pro-abortion and pro-life candidates.
SBA: Can you share a story where you changed someone’s mind or helped them decide how they would vote?
Tanis: When I was deployed in Kansas, I was canvassing for an amendment to the state constitution that aimed to clarify that there’s no “right to abortion.” I met a woman who was really glad to see me because she wanted information about the amendment. She had seen a lot of misleading ads on TV and was leaning toward voting against it. I explained the truth about the amendment and how it would protect thousands of babies and benefit mothers across the state. She was thrilled to get the real story and ended up voting in favor of the amendment.
SBA: Do you feel that you are making an impact in the Ohio Senate race between Sen. Sherrod Brown and Republican nominee Bernie Moreno?
Tanis: I definitely feel like we’re making a positive impact in the Ohio Senate race. When I first started canvassing, a lot of people didn’t know who Bernie Moreno was, and were planning to vote for Sherrod Brown because they recognized his name and generally liked him. After months of canvassing I can see that more people are getting to know Moreno, and they like what they see. I’ve spent a lot of time talking to voters about Brown’s radical abortion positions, which tends to turn them off him. When I share Moreno’s pro-life stance and explain why he’d be good for Ohio, the response has been really positive. As we get closer to the election, I feel like many more people know who Moreno is and what he stands for, and that’s a great sign.
SBA: Do you feel that your work as a canvasser is making a difference?
Tanis: Yes, I really feel like we’re making a huge difference. As I mentioned earlier, a lot of people don’t know as much about the Senate race compared to the presidential one, and many aren’t familiar with Moreno. Going door to door and sharing what he stands for really helps ensure voters are fully informed. When we first started canvassing this election cycle, it felt like almost half the people I talked to were in favor of Brown and Kamala Harris. But now, after canvassing for a while, that number seems to be dropping every day.
When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, our movement was given a historic opportunity. But the battle for life became much more difficult.
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