Launch a political career

Launch a political career

Launch a political career : Multi-thousand tips to make your life easier.

So you want to run for office? Senate, perhaps? Governor? Maybe even President?

Let's start a little closer to home first! Many people dream of a political career, but don't know where to start. Or perhaps you're tired of just complaining about local issues and are ready to be a decision-maker. Whatever your circumstances, if you have the drive and desire to launch a political career, there is a way to do it successfully.

1. Evaluate your goals. Are you passionate about a single issue, or a type of issue? Or do you simply want to serve the public as an elected official? The answer to this question could determine how you proceed. For instance, if you're passionate about the school curriculum, don't run for a county council seat—they don't have jurisdiction over school issues.
2. If you're concerned about local issues, start with local office. Research your city, township, parish, or county governing structures. How are offices divided—at large, or in districts?
3. Pinpoint your available options. Don't overlook available school board seats; in most areas, this can be some of the hardest-hitting political gamesmanship around!
4. Once you've decided what office you want to run for, attend the meetings of that body. If there is public input, ask to be included. Pick an issue that you feel passionately about and that is relevant to the body's jurisdiction. While it would be inappropriate to campaign directly from a spot on the public input agenda, you can and should treat the opportunity as face-time with the voters. Take it seriously, look your best, deliver a personable and engaging speech, and spend time before and after the meeting getting to know the board members and other attendees.
5. Spend time getting to know your local political party leaders (assuming you identify with a party, that is). Go to meetings. Ask to be included on a mailing list (most local party groups have email lists for events and information). Volunteer to assist with events, mailings, canvassing, and election support—whatever needs to be done. People will remember this come election time.
6. Research your state's campaign laws and finance disclosure requirements. Nothing can derail a fledgling campaign faster than a failure to file a necessary form. It may seem unfair, but the perception is that the candidate plays fast and loose with the rules or may even be unethical. If that's the sort of press you start getting, you could be doomed before you even get out of the starting gate.
7. Keep a detailed calendar of timelines for filing requirements and advertising deadlines. Most states and local government subdivisions have rules on when, where, and how advertising for political campaigns can be placed, and when the ads have to come down. Monitor those deadlines with obsessive precision.
8. Draft your family, friends, and colleagues to help your campaign (during personal time, not work time). They can make phone calls, write letters, post to a blog, canvass the area, drive people to the polls on election day, and more. Running a campaign can get expensive, so don't hesitate to call in favors.
9. Keep reminding yourself why you're doing this. Don't lose sight of your desire to serve. Securing the office is only a means to an end, not an end in itself!
10. Enlist a high school or college student with the skills to set up a website. If your campaign doesn't have a web presence, you're missing out on one of the most powerful forms of voter communication ever.
11. Look into maintaining a blog. You can set one up at no cost and with few web skills, and it's a great way to communicate directly with potential constituents.
12. Do you want to pursue a full-time career in politics? You may want to consider another approach. This method puts you in a background office environment first to gain contacts and valuable work experience. After three to six years working for a state administration, Congress, or a federal agency administrative office, you can leverage that experience into your own campaign. Look carefully at state legislative offices and congressional seats, which are generally easier to win for those without extensive political backgrounds. You'll need to court and maintain close contacts within your political party throughout your working career; when you decide to run, those contacts will translate into strong party support for your candidacy.