Organizing to Win: The Art & Science of Running for Office

Door knocking is an opportunity for you to look a voter in their eyes and welcome their participation in public policy, and there is no better way than it coming from the candidate at the voter’s doorstep. Once you start door knocking, you will see why this community-building effort can make all the difference. Voters will remember a connection with a candidate, and more than what you said, they w...

Meeting people where they are means speaking to them physically where they are: on a doorstep, at an event, online; and emotionally where they are: their perceptions, feelings, and frustrations. In fact, good campaigning is more listening, and less talking. Before we go out there and meet voters, remember we are in a fast-paced society, and people seem to be getting busier, don’t they? Placing a c...

Investments in technology by national parties have allowed campaigns to access voter databases that provide valuable information. What you do with that data is the science behind your campaign, and it will make all the difference as you keep it up to date. We'll cover what you need to know about forming your universe of voters, and how you can really learn about your district. Don’t assume yo...

Running for office is an entrepreneurial effort as you are building an organization from scratch. This requires a vision, human capital, resources, and a goal-oriented plan to meet benchmarks with a timeline. Being a candidate demands being creative, resourceful, disciplined, and motivated to lead through pressures and setbacks. Making your announcement official and establishing your campaign with...

Representative democracy is a bedrock American principle that, when fulfilled, guarantees every person a voice in this citizen government. When you have a diverse array of individuals making decisions about policy impacting families, you create a full view of the community and the needs of its people. Taken together, elected officials from different ideologies and backgrounds will generate more pe...

At this point, you’ve taken inventory of what drives you in this authentic journey to make a positive difference in your district . You have thought about what office you may run for, and know what kind of race it will be. You’ve met the local political party and are thinking about how you will get on the ballot. When you make that decision to run, you’re also making the decision to win. In this e...

One does not decide to just run for office and suddenly they are on the ballot. There are a few ways to get onto the ballot, and we will discuss the importance of getting involved in your local political party just as you got involved in your community. One thing is certain: the major political party you belong to has something you need , and that’s access to the ballot. Let's talk political...

Authenticity is derived from feeling a passion for your purpose; that you are enthusiastic about your purpose! Thinking through the work you’ve been engaged in will help illuminate what drives you. You don’t need to come out on your first day of campaigning with every policy position, but you need to have a sense of who you are, why you want to run, and why you’re the right person for the role. In...

In thinking about running for office, it helps to be rooted in your community. Being born and raised in the town comes with advantages like a known network, but if you are not from the town, then get involved first – don’t just parachute into town and run. Make it a goal to show up and accomplish something before you run for office. Approach this with an interest in learning about your community w...

Our democracy hangs in the balance with a billionaire-class making decisions to give tax breaks to the richest corporations; while the programs working families count on are slashed. Prices for essential items rise, as everyday people work harder and harder to make ends meet. This leads people to grow cynical about government, and their elected representatives. Our Democracy was created with the e...