deciding to run for elected office campaign skills 101
DESCRIPTION
DECIDING TO RUN FOR ELECTED OFFICE Campaign Skills 101. The National Democratic Institute. Introductions/ Ground rules. Introductions Ground Rules Ice Breaker Exercise. Photo: Amy Hamelin, NDI. Objectives. To assess your readiness to run for office - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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?