Conservative techies launch ‘app store’ for campaigns

A group of conservative techies released an “app store” on Wednesday to help campaigns adopt tech tools.

Lincoln Labs, which launched in 2013, has published a list of tools that campaigns can use. The site covers areas like internal communication, email marketing, technical infrastructure, databases, analytics, fundraising and contact management.

{mosads}All of the tools are publically available and range from those used by the average user — like Gmail — to more campaign-specific tools like advertising platform provider Targeted Victory.

The list was developed after Lincoln Labs surveyed “nearly 100 advocacy organizations and tech influencers” for their recommendations. It is part of an ongoing effort by the group to bring campaigns’ digital efforts up-to-speed.

“The apps you see today are just the beginning,” said Lincoln Labs co-founder Chris Abrams in a statement. “We are asking our colleagues, members and partners to share what other products they use to make their advocacy and political efforts more effective.”

Lincoln Labs is part of a movement within Republican politics to update the party’s thinking on technology. A 2013 “autopsy” conducted by the GOP after Mitt Romney’s loss found that a commitment to technology in campaigns was “critical.”

As part of their efforts, Lincoln Labs hosts conferences and meetups for conservative-minded members of the tech industry and policy community.