The calling list is the list of registered voters in the district. It is generated by the Registrar of Voters and contains the phone numbers given by people when they register to vote. This government provided list is not checked against a ‘no call list’ because calls to these numbers are not subject to that list.
If a voter does not want calls from candidates and political parties/pollsters, the voter does not have to provide a phone number when registering to vote, or can ask the Registrar to remove the phone number.
Oh but surely you could check it against the federal do not call list. And surely you are aware that nobody knows you don’t have to give the voter registrar your phone number, or that it means you get telemarketing calls from candidates.
So to me you’re deliberately calling people whom you know don’t want to be called, during dinner. Maybe you’re willing to do that–but own it. I happen to think a prospective elected official would do better than that, but I happen to think most elected officials are narcissists.
I’m willing to call a chinese auction “chinese auction.” I’m willing to do so because that’s what it’s called, and because I have seen zero evidence that there is any offensive origin. I’ll own it.