“There is increased hesitancy, but most of 2020, Democrats didn’t knock doors at all,” said Jaime Harrison, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, after he spoke to volunteers heading out to knock doors here Saturday morning. “And in the end, I think that hurt us because Republicans never stopped. And so we’ve learned that lesson.”…

Even now, in Virginia’s critical gubernatorial race, some progressives say they’re still having a difficult time getting people to volunteer in person, though vaccines have helped ease concerns.

“We have noticed a lot more people eager to help, but not necessarily eager to knock on doors. It’s been tough,” said Maya Castillo, the political director for New Virginia Majority, which organizes communities of color.

Castillo said groups of volunteers she spoke with last month wanted to know if she would canvass, even though she’s immunocompromised, and only had their concerns allayed when she said she would.