deciding to run for elected office campaign skills 101

DECIDING TO RUN FOR DECIDING TO RUN FOR ELECTED OFFICEELECTED OFFICE

Campaign Skills 101

The National Democratic Institute

INTRODUCTIONS/INTRODUCTIONS/GROUND RULESGROUND RULES

• Introductions• Ground Rules• Ice Breaker

Exercise

Photo: Amy Hamelin, NDI

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES• To assess your

readiness to run for office

• To identify strategies to prepare for leadership and increase your visibility

Photo: Amy Hamelin, NDI

TOPICSTOPICS

Joining a party Independent candidates Rising through the ranks Assessing readiness to run

KEY TERMSKEY TERMS• Political party• Independent candidate• Gender equality• Women’s wing• Networking

Photo: NDI

EXERCISE: THINKING EXERCISE: THINKING ABOUT RUNNINGABOUT RUNNING

• What do you need to think about when thinking about running for elected office?

Photo: NDI

JOINING A PARTYJOINING A PARTY• Gateway to political leadership• Access to training• Gain political experience• Access networks and leaders• Access funding• Influence policy-making

Photo: NDI

INDEPENDENT INDEPENDENT CANDIDATESCANDIDATES

• Advantages–Freedom to develop policy agenda–Ability to work across parties

• Disadvantages–No natural support base–Need to procure own funding–Difficult to win

RISING THROUGH THE RISING THROUGH THE RANKSRANKS

• Engage in projects that: – raise your profile– improve your skills– improve party performance

Photo: Caroline Hubbard, NDI

INCREASING VISIBILITYINCREASING VISIBILITY

“Everything you do—being a part of a political party, having an organization, building a network—these are tools for increasing the visibility of your leadership and your cause. Use all of the tools available to you.”

– Sonja Lokar

DEVELOPING YOUR DEVELOPING YOUR NETWORKSNETWORKS

• Networks enable you to:–Achieve goals– Increase name recognition–Share information and strategies

• Gather contacts from every event• Maintain/update contact file

DEVELOPING YOUR DEVELOPING YOUR NETWORKSNETWORKS

• Define your objective• Identify the people you need• Initiate contact• Follow-up• Be available

Photo: NDI

GETTING READY TO RUNGETTING READY TO RUN

• Are you ready to run?–Personal questions–Personal liabilities–Questions about party procedures–Questions about election law and

context

PERSONAL QUESTIONSPERSONAL QUESTIONS• Have you considered the impact on

your personal and professional life?• Is your family prepared and supportive?

Photo: Katie Croake, NDI

PERSONAL QUESTIONSPERSONAL QUESTIONS

• Why do you want to run?• What are your priority issues?• What level of support do you have?• Are you able to raise the money

required to win?

PERSONAL LIABILITIESPERSONAL LIABILITIES

• Review your records:–Financial/business–Public–Personal/Family

• What could be used against you?• How could you minimize the

damage?

Photo: NDI

INCUMBENT: PERSONAL INCUMBENT: PERSONAL LIABILITIESLIABILITIES

• Has your vote on the same issue changed over time?

• How is your attendance?• Have you delivered on previous

campaign promises?

CANDIDATE SELECTION CANDIDATE SELECTION PROCESSPROCESS

• Who selects?

• How?• Eligibility

Photo: NDI

ELECTORAL LAWS AND ELECTORAL LAWS AND CONTEXTCONTEXT

• Laws• Context:–What is the history?– Is your district winnable?–Who are your opponents?–What is the political environment?

EXERCISE: SELF EXERCISE: SELF ASSESSMENTASSESSMENT

Photo: NDI

EXERCISE: SWOT ANALYSISEXERCISE: SWOT ANALYSIS

Strengths Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

DECIDING TO RUN DECIDING TO RUN SUMMARYSUMMARY

• Decide whether and which party to join

• Rise through the ranks• Have a frank discussion with yourself

– and your family• Review your liabilities• Understand the selection process• Know the electoral laws and context• Ask yourself: Why not me?