Tim Kelly began his campaign for mayor of Chattanooga at 2% in the polls. He was an unknown entrepreneur and businessman, running as an Independent who had only voted in Republican primaries, in a 17-candidate field.

In the runoff, he started with low support among African-American voters, against a big-spending, business-community-funded opponent who would have been the city's first woman mayor.

To break out of the primary field, we ran a series of ads built on Kelly's crisis management experience and hands-on leadership, including showing him personally filling potholes.

For the runoff, we ran a campaign focused on early childhood education, education equality and health equity.

Kelly went from 2% in the polls to a 60–40 win. This former Republican won 95% of Democrats and 96% of African-American voters, a higher share than Barack Obama ever received.