Political Campaigns Aren’t Won By Part-Timers

We get it. You likely have a full-time job that keeps you busy. And depending on the elected position and the circumstances of your race, you may not need to run a 24/7 campaign.

But if you are going to run for office, you need to understand what you are getting into. Political campaigning requires a real commitment that will challenge and change your daily life for the foreseeable future. Whether you are running for town council or state representative, you’ll need to put in the work to win.

Even if your time is limited, your campaign will require as much effort as you can give.

Because no candidate ever won an election by doing too little.

The Time Commitment of Political Campaigns

Picture your calendar packed with activities like door-to-door canvassing, tireless fundraising events, and intense strategy meetings, along with public rallies and private appearances. This isn’t just the routine for state or congressional races; even highly-contested local elections can demand a huge level of engagement.

And that can be tough if you are employed.

Some prospective candidates assume that simply announcing their candidacy—essentially ‘throwing their hat in the ring’—is  all they need to do. However, getting on the ballot is only the beginning. It also marks the start of an emotionally taxing period of public scrutiny and personal criticism.

There are three major tasks that will require attention:

• Fundraising: Remember the old telephone ad, “Reach out and touch someone?” That’s what you’ll need to do if you want to have donors. Fundraising is more than just sending emails and letters asking people for money. You’ll need to build and leverage relationships with donors, especially the more generous ones. This involves phone calls, meetings, and events, making fundraising an ongoing and time-consuming task. Hosting a fundraising dinner might require weeks of preparation, securing a venue, and inviting potential donors. During the event, you’ll need to engage with attendees and make a case for their support.

• Canvassing and Connecting: Especially for local races, door-to-door canvassing is a great way to connect with constituents. You’ll definitely hear some stories from the people you visit, which can be both inspiring and draining. Even if you’re a fast walker and you have other volunteers helping, canvassing takes a lot of time. Expect to spend several evenings and weekends walking neighborhoods. You’ll talk to residents, listen to their concerns, and gather support. The benefits are more exposure and increased voter turnout, especially if your election date is not widely advertised.
• Strategy and Adaptation: Political strategy is not set in stone. It evolves in keeping with current events, examining voter feedback, and keeping tabs on your opponent’s moves. Staying relevant requires daily involvement and close coordination with your campaign team. If a local issue becomes prominent, you might need to quickly shift focus. This could mean quick strategy meetings and new campaign material creation, all while keeping your core message consistent. You have to adapt quickly to stay relevant and effective. Staying on top of your campaign requires daily involvement and coordination with your campaign team.

These tasks form the core of your campaign. They’re not just chores that can be put off to the spare hours of your evenings or weekends. You need to always be on your toes, responsive, and energetically involved with all the time you have available.

Every handshake, every conversation, and every contact is important. You have time constraints both on the calendar and in the hours of the day.

There’s a reason they’re called races.

 

The Drawbacks of Being a Weekend Campaigner

If you’re only engaging in campaign activities on weekends or the occasional evening, you’re missing out. Your opponents are likely putting in more time and getting things done.

What will they be doing?

• They’ll be making more connections.
• Raising more money.
• They’ll be spending time refining their strategies.
• And be seen more regularly by voters.

A half-hearted effort will put you at a disadvantage. Look at successful politicians. They didn’t win by phoning it in. They immersed themselves in the process. They understood that every interaction and every decision mattered. If your opponent attends a weekday community event and you don’t, they gain visibility and potential votes that you miss out on.

Think about your supporters, donors, and the party that’s backing you. They invest time, money, and advocacy on your behalf. They deserve your full commitment.

Anything less can seem disrespectful. You owe everyone your best effort.

The Cost of Lazy Campaigning

There are many who failed because they didn’t fully commit. Many years ago, we worked on a local race where three candidates ran together as a ‘slate’ for seats on the town board. One candidate only agreed to appear on the ballot because he was asked. He was not particularly invested from the beginning, and it showed.

He didn’t attend many events or strategy meetings. He did little or no canvassing. The amount of money that was raised through his efforts was negligible.

Basically, all he contributed was allowing himself to be included in the advertising, the print ads, and the website for the campaign.

In fact, late that August, when the campaign was gearing up, he went away on vacation. As you can imagine, that didn’t go well with the other candidates. They were furious.

So, what happened?

Obviously, the candidate’s personal campaign lacked momentum and visibility. He basically ran on the coattails of the slate while contributing little personally. Of the three that ran, the candidate who barely participated was the only one who lost.

Commit Fully or Reconsider

Go big, or go home. If you’re at the crossroads of committing to run, consider the dedication, time, and energy you’ll need to win. If you’re not ready to commit fully, it might be wise to reconsider.

After all, those who will support you and your future constituents deserve your best effort. Go give it to them!