Democratic operatives were relieved to see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relax requirements for face masks and social distancing, convinced the return to normal will boost the party in 2022 by allowing resumption of door-knocking and other in-person voter turnout activities.

Democratic campaigns, and Democratic voters, have been committed to observing coronavirus health precautions, forcing the party to minimize door-to-door canvassing and other person-to-person field operations considered the most effective means of turning out the vote. There was anxiety the party would be at a disadvantage heading into the midterm elections because Republican groups and party committees have been less beholden to pandemic restrictions and more active in communities interacting with voters.