12 Things I Learned Campaigning
This is by no means an exhaustive list. This was a crash course in all things campaigning.
I have volunteered for countless campaigns. Being a volunteer is great – you show up and someone tells you what to do. There’s no need to know how the backend works. So, what did I expect when I decided to run for office and run my own campaign? Lessons were learned
Take the big swing. I started collecting signatures before I said out loud that I was actually going to run for office. Be bold. Say the scary thing.
Seek advice. Having volunteered for campaigns before, I understood the need for meet-and-greets, text and phone banking, canvassing and mailers. But how do these things get done? And in what order?
Make a timeline, ASAP. Even if you have no idea how long it takes to put together a mailer, guess. You understand the basics of the USPS. Figure out when you want the items delivered, then work backwards. This will give you a sense of control and organization.
Mention your candidacy to everyone. Don’t assume people know you’re running for office, and don’t assume they will offer help. You never know who people can connect you with, and knowing people is half the battle.
The little conversations matter as much (if not more) than the big ones. Being yourself and having honest conversations with individual voters is the most effective marketing. Say, “hi” in the grocery store. Knock on doors. Make phone calls. People are (surprisingly) happy to talk to you. You never know who you’ll connect with. I ended up meeting someone who knew my grandma, and it turned into a connection that helped me reach parts of Shaker I wouldn’t have before.
Don’t assume every task is small and that you can handle it. Just because something seems small doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be delegated. Small tasks add up fast. So...
Take the help offered, ask for help that isn’t. People will offer help early on, when you don’t actually know what you need. Take notes. Get their name and contact information and hold them accountable a month or two later when you need volunteers. Having trouble getting the help you need? Delegate to your ardent supporters, near and far. They will rise to the occasion.
Over-prepare for everything. Know what topics different groups will want to focus on. Prepare, bring notes and take notes during forums and discussions to help form responses.
Don’t conform to what you think people want you to be. Stand your ground. Speak your truth. People who believe in you will follow.
Continually connect with the community. Be loud on social media, send texts, drop literature at doors, make cold phone calls, knock on doors and wait for answers, smile and wave while running errands and introduce yourself to strangers.
Being of service has nothing to do with your own comfort. As people started asking me, “Are you ready to lose friends?” and “Are you prepared to shop at a different grocery store?” and “Are you ready to make people mad?” I started to wonder if this was the right move for me. I checked in with myself. Am I really ok with these possibilities? Yes, I am, because being of service has nothing to do with my own comfort and everything to do with helping our community.
It’s ok to be emotional. It’s ok not to know. It’s ok to be your authentic self. I received the most supportive responses when I was my honest self. When I wasn’t trying to fit into a particular situation or say what a specific group wanted me to hear.
I’ve heard that campaigning is a marathon at a sprint pace. For three months, it definitely was. It’s hard to imagine devoting so much time and energy to something so intense and not achieving the expected outcome. I did not win a seat on the board, but I surprised myself by being at peace with the results. My drive to be of service is even stronger now, and the experience and connections I’ve made will only help propel it further. I won, just not in the way I expected.