Experienced politicians who are used to running unopposed might be in coast mode. In a race like that, you have the chance to gain momentum and take your opponent by surprise.
In the US, use the U. S. Vote Foundation website to easily find the location and contact information for your local election office. They’ll have information about available offices and the duties those offices require. For some elections, you have to gather a specific number of signatures from voters before you qualify for candidacy. The people who sign aren’t necessarily saying they’ll vote for you, just that they think you should run. [3] X Research source There are also many nonprofit organizations, such as Victory Fund, Vote Run Lead, and League of Women Voters, that provide guidance and resources to people running for office.
Campaign finance: look for an accountant or someone who has experience handling and managing money, as well as an impeccable reputation for honesty Volunteer coordinator: this person needs experience managing a diverse group of people in a number of different settings—someone with experience in event planning would be great Communications director: someone with experience working with all different types of media, especially social media, who can coordinate your message across multiple platforms, as well as schedule press conferences and interviews and handle media requests for access General secretary or administrative assistant: someone who handles the day-to-day operations of your campaign office, including fielding phone calls, sorting mail, and managing appointments
Reach out to nonprofit organizations as well as previous candidates to get a good idea of how much money you’ll need. Nonprofits might also provide some materials free of charge—you never know unless you ask! Your local election office will have budgetary information for every candidate in previous elections, so you can look at that as well.
Set up booths at local community events as well as hold your own events. A public picnic in a local park that’s also a fundraiser is a great way to raise money as well as awareness and really gets the community involved. Even if you have enough private money to fund your campaign, you still want to fundraise. Asking for money means you have to talk to voters, and voters who donate to your campaign are more likely to vote for you.
For example, if you have a suburban district made up of families, you would want to craft a campaign that appealed to families and make sure all of your events were family-friendly. You might even offer special events for kids! As another example, if your district is in a hip, urban area made up mostly of 20-something singles, you might hold campaign events at the local bar or have a free concert in the park.
Finding out what matters to voters will help you identify the most pressing problems they face. It could be the potholes on Main Street or the fact that the trash is never picked up on time. Position yourself as the candidate who cares about this problem and is going to solve it. Depending on the office you’re running for, it’s possible you’ll have multiple issues. For example, a mayor is responsible for a lot of different areas, while a school board member only has to worry about the public schools.
Try to keep your slogan to a few words—something you can easily print on signs and T-shirts. For example, if you’re running for the local school board, your slogan might be “For the Children. " Great slogans are often a play on your name or use a literary device, such as rhyming or alliteration, to make them more memorable. For example, someone named Corey might run for city council using the slogan “Corey Cares. "
You and the other candidate don’t have to agree on everything, but you should agree on the major issues that are central to your campaign. You’ll get a lot more name recognition this way because the public will come to associate your name with theirs. If your names happen to rhyme or start with the same letter, even better!
Even if it’s too early for official campaign activities, you can still put your online presence in place, poll voters, build a mailing list, and do other things that will give your campaign momentum out of the gate. Focusing on likely votes early also gives you the opportunity to recruit those people as volunteers for your campaign effort.
Keep your signs simple and consistent. Decide on a couple of colors, a font, and maybe a logo. Then, maintain those elements in all of your signage as well as stickers, T-shirts, and other campaign swag.
Volunteers can help you out with this by knocking on doors and talking to voters as well, but it’s important that you get out there and mingle with your community. Community campaign events and town halls are a great way to talk to voters and show them that you care about the issues in the community. For example, you might hold a campaign event to pick up litter. Always pay attention to your physical appearance. Even if you’re not at an official event, you might still be in a position to meet and talk to voters—make sure you’re somebody they’d want to talk to![14] X Research source
For example, if you’re trying to attract younger voters, you’ll most likely want to start a TikTok account. In addition to social media, you’ll also want a basic website that will serve as your online base of operations. Make sure you have prominent donation buttons!
Powerful people in your community can really make or break your campaign. Make sure you get their support early—they can help you achieve your goals. If there’s an influencer in your community who’s against your campaign, figure out why. Usually, it’s because your position on an important local issue would have a negative effect on that person’s bottom line.
Present yourself as a fellow community member who’s passionate about improving people’s daily lives. Voters tend to respond well to this.
Keep in mind that you can’t expect the news to cover your campaign just because you’re running. You need to host newsworthy events. Talking to people with journalism experience can help you figure out how to make your events more likely to be covered. Often, political candidates drive themselves into debt with expensive TV ads that don’t really nudge the needle in terms of persuading voters. Don’t feel like you have to make a bunch of TV ads just because your opponent is doing it.
When you follow up with supporters, if they say they’re not planning to go vote, find out why. If it’s something your campaign can help with, offer to do so. For example, you might rent vans and offer free rides.
