6 Things Any First-Time Candidate Needs To Do In Order To Run For Office
You'd be surprised how much work needs to go into a political campaign prior to your announcement.
So, you’ve caught the political bug and want to launch a bid for elected office in 2021 or 2022? Good for you!
Unfortunately, it’s not quite as simple as saying “I want to run for X office.” Whether you’re running for dogcatcher or United States Congress, you’ll need to complete a number of preliminary tasks during the “exploratory” stages of your candidacy — i.e. before you make an official announcement.
Following are six things that you’ll want to take care of as you go through this exploratory process (in no particular order):
Register your web domains and/or social media handles
If you haven’t already, you’ll want to purchase any relevant web domains that you’ll need for launching your political campaign. Examples include (but are not limited to): firstnamelastname.com, lastnameforstate.com, and firstnameforcongress.com, etc.
Not sure where to begin? First, check the availability of your desired domain(s) by visiting a WHOIS domain lookup tool. Once you know you can reserve your domain(s), there are several domain registries that you can use, including GoDaddy and Bluehost (both of those sites also offer web hosting services if you are interested).
As you get closer to your campaign launch date, it is also a good idea to reserve the social handles (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Parlor, etc.) that you plan on using throughout your campaign. Because these are harder to hide from oppo researchers, it’s not recommended to do so until you’re 100% sure you’re committed to your bid.
Learn the setup and filing processes for your political office
Because a campaign is legally a business, there are a number of steps you’ll need to take from a legal standpoint in order to make your bid for political office legit.
The first thing you’ll need to do is figure out what the rules are for your particular jurisdiction. Each state has its own rules for declaring one’s candidacy — the easiest thing to do is to visit your state’s Board of Elections and go to the page dedicated to candidates. For federal races, you’ll want to visit the Federal Election Commission’s guide for candidate filings.
Other steps that typically accompany a bid for office include (but are not limited to):
Setting up a bank account for your campaign;
Filing with the IRS for an employer identification number (EIN);
Registering for a Post Office Box that can be used as your campaign’s mailing address (NB: this can also be a box at a local UPS Store or Mailboxes Etc.);
Creating an account with a donation platform like WinRed; and
Setting up a campaign phone line — I’d recommend getting either a cheap burner phone from a company like Mint Mobile or connecting Google Voice to your personal cell phone.
You’ll also need to figure out what the filing requirements are for your particular race. In some cases, it may be as simple as paying a filing fee — while other jurisdictions might also require signed petitions or a nomination from your local political party.
Start thinking about your campaign team
Even if you can’t bring everyone on board right away, it’s a good idea to start talking with — and vetting — potential consultants and staffers during the exploratory stage. Depending on what office you run for, you’ll want to at least talk to a potential campaign manager, a general consultant, and a fundraiser.
These individuals will be able to give you a basic rundown of the political landscape for your upcoming race and help you strategize for your launch. They’ll also be able to give you a better idea of what you’ll need in terms of voter breakdowns and fundraising goals to mount a successful campaign in your district.
Prep, Prep, Prep!
Being a political candidate means you’ll be making lots of speeches AND need to know a lot about the issues most important to your district.
The good news is no one is expecting you to be perfect on day one! But it doesn’t hurt to practice your public speaking skills and/or brush up on your comprehension of local policy issues while you’re getting ready to launch your campaign. Not only will this be good practice for what is to come, but you’ll gain a better sense of where your strengths and weaknesses may be in terms AND get a head start on your self/oppo research efforts.
You’ll also want to study the district itself — its demographics, vote history, key landmarks/places of note, neighborhoods, etc. The more familiar you are with the area you want to represent, the more approachable you’ll appear to prospective voters.
(Quietly) ask friends and family members for pledges
Campaigns are often won or lost based on fundraising, and the more money you have in your bank account on day one, the better. While you don’t want too many people to know about your plans for political office, you’ll want to ask your family and close friends if they’ll support you on this endeavor by pledging a contribution to your campaign. This way, your campaign has some credibility when it launches and there are already donations present on your campaign finance report.
Talk with your local party leaders (and attend local party events)
Because the local party units often have a say in who is nominated to run on the party line, you’ll want to talk with whoever is in charge to gauge their thoughts about your potential candidacy. They may be thrilled and help you with the necessary infrastructure to get your campaign off the ground — or they may politely request that you step aside in favor of someone who is already on the inside track for that particular seat.
Regardless of the outcome, if you aren’t already, you’ll want to attend any (and all) local party events that you can so you can meet with the people who will become your biggest supporters (and future volunteers). And don’t forget about auxiliary groups like Young Republicans/College Republicans or women’s groups.
Let PRC help you get your political campaign off the ground today! Contact us today for more information or to request a proposal!