How to Run for Office - How to Campaign

How to run for office is not a mystery but not knowing how to campaign is often the reason why so many Americans shy away from performing the most respected civic duty granted to the American citizenry. 

There are just as many reasons why a person would want to run for an elected office as there are for why not to run.  Holding an elected office is a great responsibility and in most cases requires a huge time commitment.  Some elected offices come complete with a yearly salary and Per Diem allowance, while others have just a small Per Diem allowance.  I bring this up because running for elected office can be a financially draining experience and questions need to be answered before considering the effort, such as a) Can my family afford me running for office? b) Can I continue my full time employment and also keep my elected position? c) Will dual employment cause a conflict of interest?

For the remainder of this article we’re going to assume you have considered all options, including your eligibility requirements, and made the decision to run for elected office. We’ll now discuss the steps you’ll have to take in order to realize your goal at the local and state level.  And for examples, I’ll be referencing the process which is use in the state of Illinois since this is what I am most familiar with.

Step one is to contact your Secretary of State, or County Clerk, office or web site, in order to obtain the proper petition forms. In Illinois a Statement of Candidacy form and a petition must be circulated to obtain the required amount of signatures to get placed on the ballot. Signatures must be from registered voters in the district for which the office you are running is located. It is advised that the candidate seek legal consul to make sure that all forms are completed correctly and also that each signature is verified as a legitimate registered voter and in the right jurisdiction.

It’s crucial to get the signatures on the nominating petition verified because if an opponent challenges the petition during the campaign and finds discrepancies then game over, your candidacy will be null and void and you will be taken off the ballot. Challenging the nominating petition is the most common strategy used in politics.

Step two involves setting up your base. You’ll need as much help as you can gather to run a successful campaign. This means you’ll have to enlist at a minimum 12 individuals that can devote the time and commitment necessary to get the word out and also solicit donations to your campaign fund. You can enlist friends and family members but try to reach out to other individuals that have a larger sphere of reach within your community.

You can find these individuals by attending every single event that is listed in your community newspaper. Go to these events, shake hands, smile, exchange hopes and concerns for the event and the community at large. Be genuine and you will find enough people to launch your campaign. At the very least, have an attorney and also an accountant as part of your team. If the opportunity arises, befriend people in the press and media.

Step three involves setting up your campaign disclosures and abiding by all campaign funding regulations. You’ll want to set up a separate checking account that will not commingle with your personal account. Remember that campaign contributions are not tax deductible nor is any of the expenditures of a campaign. Your accountant can help set up your fund and also help with assigning targets to meet within your budget.

Set up micro-budgets that account for 10% of what your total expectations will be this way you will know what techniques are getting the most bang for your buck and also so you don’t waste precious funds in areas that are getting the least benefit.

You’ll want to set up a web site that has the function to accept campaign contributions up to the maximum amount allowed by law. Your base of volunteers should be able to run phone banks, send off mailings and also emails to begin your fundraising.

Step four is campaigning. This is when you let out your stand on the issues in a public forum. You make speeches and hold rallies. You go to where the people are; coffee shops, shopping malls, recreation centers, the library. Sponsor a few banquets and some casual cook outs. Always, always, always invite members of the press.

Do whatever you can to distinguish yourself from your opponents and in order to do that you’re going to need to know your opponent. If you’re running against an incumbent then take every opportunity to contrast his/her decision making to your decision making. Try to stay away from the negative but stay true to your values.

Step five calls for being prepared on Election Day. Don’t forget to vote for yourself. If by chance, or circumstance, you lose then it’s also important to be gracious. If the office you were running for was significant, then have a concession speech ready and be classy about it, there may be a chance to build on your graciousness the next time you run. Call your opponent and offer your congratulations, regardless if you mean it or not. You may even get some bonus points if it’s done in a public manner.

When you win, be a gracious winner and congratulate your opponent on running a competitive campaign. Have a small speech ready for the reporters, there will always be reporters waiting to for a few blurbs for the morning paper.

After winning, file any required election certification forms with the Secretary of State’s office or the County Clerk’s office. Report to perform your civic duty next term. Congratulations.