Disagreeing Gracefully in Politics
There is a moment in almost every campaign when the room shifts. A strategy meeting grows tense, a volunteer questions a decision, a consultant pushes back on messaging, or a supporter posts something critical online. No one planned for the disagreement, but suddenly it is there — and it demands a response. Politics is built […]
Is Your Campaign a Marathon or a Sprint?
People love to say campaigns are marathons. It sounds disciplined. Strategic. Mature. Pace yourself. Build steadily. Protect your energy. Think long-term. But here’s the truth most people don’t say out loud: It’s a luxury to run your campaign like a marathon. Not every race gives you that runway. Some candidates step in late.Some inherit chaos.Some […]
Campaign Payroll: What Campaigns Need to Know
Campaign payroll is one of the behind-the-scenes tasks essential to running a successful and legal campaign. While it rarely gets the same attention as messaging, fundraising, or field strategy, payroll becomes unavoidable the moment a campaign begins paying staff. Many campaigns underestimate how quickly payroll obligations appear. Understanding when campaign payroll is required—and how to […]
Fundraising Isn’t Just for Candidates
Fundraising is often treated as a line someone crosses only after deciding to run for office. Before that point, many people assume it does not apply to them—or worry that engaging with fundraising signals ambition they are not ready to claim. That assumption misunderstands how political power actually works. Fundraising is not only a candidate […]
Campaigns Need Advocates, Not Just Volunteers
Political campaigns often track visible metrics such as volunteer sign-ups, doors knocked, and calls made. These numbers matter. However, they do not tell the full story of how support spreads or how trust forms inside a community. In reality, campaigns that withstand scrutiny, skepticism, and moments of uncertainty rarely rely on volunteer numbers alone. Instead, […]
What You Need to Know About 10DLC Political Texting Rules
Text messaging has become a core communication tool for political campaigns. It is fast, direct, and effective. However, recent changes to 10DLC regulations have altered how campaigns are allowed to use text messaging—and the consequences of ignoring those changes can be significant. Many campaigns are still operating under outdated assumptions. Others are unaware that the […]
Your Campaign Announcement Press Release Is How You Claim the Moment
Most campaigns do not start with a big announcement. Instead, they start with a conversation. Someone asks if you are really running. A supporter shares the news before you have said it publicly. A reporter sends a quick email asking for confirmation. Suddenly, your campaign is “out there,” but nothing feels official yet. That is […]
A DIY Campaign Starts With Radical Honesty
Often a DIY political campaign begin quietly. A candidate sits at a kitchen table, looks at filing deadlines, checks a bank balance, and thinks, I can handle this—at least for now. That instinct is understandable. Early on, the workload feels manageable. The race still feels theoretical. Optimism fills the gaps where structure has not yet […]
If Everything Feels Urgent, Nothing Is Strategic
By late January of an election year, many women in politics describe the same experience: everything feels urgent. Emails stack up quickly. Advice arrives from every direction. Deadlines appear to multiply overnight. Nearly every conversation ends with some version of you should already be doing this. Urgency often disguises itself as progress. However, when everything […]
The First 90 Days of a Campaign Are Not What You Think
For many first-time candidates—and more than a few experienced ones—the first 90 days of a campaign carry outsized expectations. This period is often imagined as fast-paced, public-facing, and decisive. Candidates expect momentum, clarity, and immediate validation that they made the right choice. That expectation sets campaigns up for unnecessary anxiety. In reality, the first 90 […]