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/RunForCongress
Candidates for Congress must meet certain conditions required by federal and state governments.
All candidates for Congress must:
Candidates for Congress must meet certain conditions required by federal and state governments.
All candidates for Congress must:
- Be 25 years of age
- Hold citizenship for 7 years
- Live in the state they will represent.
"TESTING THE WATERS"
Set up an "exploratory" bank account. Choose people to work closely with you as your treasurer, assistant treasurer and keeper of records.
People who are merely "testing the waters" are not legally considered to be "candidates" until AFTER they have raised over $5,000. We encourage everyone to get out and "test the waters."
STARTING YOUR CAMPAIGN
ORGANIZE A CAMPAIGN STAFF:
While the candidate is the single most important part of a campaign, as a collective entity, the staff may be just as important. Every candidate needs an organized campaign to help spread your message and earn voters' support. Select people who will lead and manage your campaign and delegate duties to them appropriately. Good staffs have propped up bad candidates and bad staffs have sunk good candidates.
While the candidate is the single most important part of a campaign, as a collective entity, the staff may be just as important. Every candidate needs an organized campaign to help spread your message and earn voters' support. Select people who will lead and manage your campaign and delegate duties to them appropriately. Good staffs have propped up bad candidates and bad staffs have sunk good candidates.
CAMPAIGN MANAGER:
It is often said that he who acts as his own lawyer has a fool for a client. A very similar statement can be made for candidates who seek to manage their own campaign. Select a campaign manager and delegate the appropriate tasks to them. Define an organizational structure for your campaign staff and fill the positions with people who are both qualified and motivated to work with you.
FUNDRAISING:
Most candidates are not good at fundraising and should leave that job to someone who is better at it.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER/WEBMASTER:
In today's world, you almost need to have a "killer" website, phone app and quality videos and graphics.
MERCHANDISE MANAGER:
The most effective advertising is actually old school:
Business cards, bumper stickers, yard signs, t-shirts, posters, hats, door hangers, brochures and flyers.
FIELD ORGANIZER:
Directly engages with voters via canvassing, phone, text messages, tabling, and all other forms of outreach. Rounds up endorsements from influential people and institutions like business owners, religious leaders, public office holders, union leaders, etc.
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR:
Depending on your election and resources, you may need dozens or even hundreds of volunteers. Volunteers may help with office tasks or go door-to-door informing voters of your candidacy.
COMMUNICATIONS/MEDIA DIRECTOR:
Crafts messages, writes speeches, and interacts with the mainstream and alternative media.
SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR:
Sets up and manages accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and more.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) MANAGER:
Purchases or leases voter management software. Voter management software is a key tool in today’s political world. It allows you to identify likely voters by party affiliation, voting frequency, and much more. It also keeps track of phone numbers, addresses, and the history of contacts from the campaign to the voter.
There are other types of software other than those used exclusively by the parties, and some are quite good—even better than NGPVAN (Democrats) and rVotes (Republicans). We currently use ActionNetwork.org
POLICY ADVISOR:
Take a stand on important issues. Before campaigning, you’ll have to take a position on issues that are important to people who live in your congressional district. This is important, as your opponents, the press, and voters will want to know where you stand. While every district has key issues that are extremely important to voters there, many issues transcend districts. Many of the policy issues are already detailed by the party platform on this website, but every local candidate will have their own specific policy positions.
OPERATIONS MANAGER:
Keeps the lights on, the paper in the office, the pens in the desks, and often balances the books and issues payroll. Establish a campaign headquarters: This is where you, your staff, volunteers, and others will meet to plan and execute your campaign. You’ll likely need to rent some sort of office space.
It is often said that he who acts as his own lawyer has a fool for a client. A very similar statement can be made for candidates who seek to manage their own campaign. Select a campaign manager and delegate the appropriate tasks to them. Define an organizational structure for your campaign staff and fill the positions with people who are both qualified and motivated to work with you.
FUNDRAISING:
Most candidates are not good at fundraising and should leave that job to someone who is better at it.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER/WEBMASTER:
In today's world, you almost need to have a "killer" website, phone app and quality videos and graphics.
MERCHANDISE MANAGER:
The most effective advertising is actually old school:
Business cards, bumper stickers, yard signs, t-shirts, posters, hats, door hangers, brochures and flyers.
FIELD ORGANIZER:
Directly engages with voters via canvassing, phone, text messages, tabling, and all other forms of outreach. Rounds up endorsements from influential people and institutions like business owners, religious leaders, public office holders, union leaders, etc.
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR:
Depending on your election and resources, you may need dozens or even hundreds of volunteers. Volunteers may help with office tasks or go door-to-door informing voters of your candidacy.
COMMUNICATIONS/MEDIA DIRECTOR:
Crafts messages, writes speeches, and interacts with the mainstream and alternative media.
SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR:
Sets up and manages accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and more.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) MANAGER:
Purchases or leases voter management software. Voter management software is a key tool in today’s political world. It allows you to identify likely voters by party affiliation, voting frequency, and much more. It also keeps track of phone numbers, addresses, and the history of contacts from the campaign to the voter.
There are other types of software other than those used exclusively by the parties, and some are quite good—even better than NGPVAN (Democrats) and rVotes (Republicans). We currently use ActionNetwork.org
POLICY ADVISOR:
Take a stand on important issues. Before campaigning, you’ll have to take a position on issues that are important to people who live in your congressional district. This is important, as your opponents, the press, and voters will want to know where you stand. While every district has key issues that are extremely important to voters there, many issues transcend districts. Many of the policy issues are already detailed by the party platform on this website, but every local candidate will have their own specific policy positions.
OPERATIONS MANAGER:
Keeps the lights on, the paper in the office, the pens in the desks, and often balances the books and issues payroll. Establish a campaign headquarters: This is where you, your staff, volunteers, and others will meet to plan and execute your campaign. You’ll likely need to rent some sort of office space.
FEDERAL REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS:
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the only agency authorized to regulate the financing of federal election campaigns, including campaigns for the United States House of Representatives. The states cannot impose additional requirements on federal candidates.
Federal registration is a two-step process:
STEP 1:
You must file a Statement of Candidacy which authorizes you to form a principal campaign committee (which will technically be what is raising and spending donations, not you). Federal law requires all candidates to file a statement of candidacy within 15 days of receiving contributions or making expenditures that exceed $5,000. The statement of candidacy is the only federally mandated ballot access requirement for congressional candidates; all other ballot access procedures are mandated at the state level. The candidacy statement authorizes "a principal campaign committee to raise and spend funds" on behalf of the candidate.
The Statement of Candidacy is a simple form to fill out, but you will need to know exactly which district you’re running in and the office you’re running for. If you’ve never run before, leave the space for Federal Election Number blank. Once you’ve filed the Statement of Candidacy, the Treasurer of your campaign committee should open up a bank account on behalf of the committee.
https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/filing-reports/registering-candidate/
https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/fecfrm2.pdf
YES, FORM 2 IS FILED FIRST AND FORM 1 IS FILED NEXT.
GO FIGURE!
STEP 2:
Within 10 days of filing the candidacy statement, the committee must file a "statement of organization" which informs the FEC about your campaign committee’s relevant details.
https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/fecfrm1.pdf
File the Statement of Organization within ten days of filing the Statement of Candidacy. The Statement of Organization is a little more complex, because you’ll have to list your committee’s bank account number and designate a committee treasurer and assistant treasurer. These are the only crucial positions in a campaign committee, because the committee cannot receive or spend funds without the authorizations of the treasurer.
Within 10 days of filing the candidacy statement, the committee must file a "statement of organization" which informs the FEC about your campaign committee’s relevant details.
https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/fecfrm1.pdf
File the Statement of Organization within ten days of filing the Statement of Candidacy. The Statement of Organization is a little more complex, because you’ll have to list your committee’s bank account number and designate a committee treasurer and assistant treasurer. These are the only crucial positions in a campaign committee, because the committee cannot receive or spend funds without the authorizations of the treasurer.
FEC FINANCIAL REPORTING
Campaign Committee Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and Custodian of Records:
Complete and submit the required official documents and provide ongoing financial reports to the FEC every quarter and before primaries and general elections.
STATE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS:
STATE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS:
BALLOT ACCESS PETITION SIGNATURES:
In many states (27), you’ll need to obtain a certain number of signatures endorsing your run in order to file as a candidate. Some states require a filing fee or they may permit candidates to collect signatures "in lieu" of the fee. Access details for your state here:
https://ballotpedia.org/Filing_requirements_for_congressional_candidates
You can pay canvassers to get signatures for you or you can rely on yourself and a few volunteers (who will probably be your family) to get them. Clearly, paying canvassers is more expensive, but is much quicker. No matter what you do, aim for 150% more signatures than the law requires—it will help make up for invalid signatures.
FILING FEES:
Once you’ve obtained the necessary signatures (if you live in a state requiring them), go ahead and register as a candidate with your state’s board of elections. Pay whatever filing fee you need to pay in order to formally register. These state filing fees vary widely in cost, but in some states these fees can be considerable.
Most states require candidates to pay some sort of filing fee. The average state fee to run for the House of representative is $1,465. This fee runs from $100 in states like Alaska to $10,440 in states like Florida.
If you intend to run with No Party Affiliation in states like Florida, you must file appropriate paperwork and inform the state’s electoral commission.
FILING FEES:
Once you’ve obtained the necessary signatures (if you live in a state requiring them), go ahead and register as a candidate with your state’s board of elections. Pay whatever filing fee you need to pay in order to formally register. These state filing fees vary widely in cost, but in some states these fees can be considerable.
Most states require candidates to pay some sort of filing fee. The average state fee to run for the House of representative is $1,465. This fee runs from $100 in states like Alaska to $10,440 in states like Florida.
If you intend to run with No Party Affiliation in states like Florida, you must file appropriate paperwork and inform the state’s electoral commission.
CAMPAIGNING:
Campaigning is perhaps the most important part of running for Congress. This takes a lot of work, though, as you’ll have to visit different groups of constituents in your district. In the end, active campaigns that can reach many people are those that are most likely to succeed.
- Talk to civic groups like the Rotary Club, the League of Women Voters, the Lion’s Club, and more.
- Hold town halls and meetings where voters can ask you questions about your policy positions.
- Visit churches, synagogues, and other houses of worship.
- Go door-to-door introducing yourself to voters.
- Have your volunteers and staff put up campaign signs.
- Convince local civic and political leaders to endorse your candidacy.
WORK WITH THE WILLING!
Identify people who are willing supporters first, before you ever try to convince anyone.
BUMPER STICKERS:
Ask people if they are willing to attach a bumper sticker to their car, truck, bicycle or even their laptop computer and give them a sticker.
YARD SIGNS:
Ask people if they are willing to permit your campaign to place a yard sign on their property and provide them with an attractive sign.
DEFINE THE ISSUES:
You want to be the one defining the issues at all times. Constantly responding to your opponents is a quick way to blend into the background and seem smaller in stature than your opponents.[20]
REACH OUT TO MEDIA:
Media have more influence on campaigns than ever before. The best kind of exposure you can get is positive coverage in the news (earned media). It pays to forge relationships with reporters in your area early and cultivate them often, because it increases the likelihood of positive earned media. Supplement this by appearing at public events, because that gives reporters (who should theoretically think positively of you) an excuse to give you coverage.
CULTIVATE A BASE OF VOLUNTEERS:
A Congressional campaign with a lot of volunteers is a powerful statement in and of itself. Since your field operation is what really drives turnout, a well-developed group of volunteers can create a movement type of atmosphere and an air of inevitability. It energizes your base and depresses your opponents.
GET OUT THE VOTE:
When Election Day comes, it’s time to get your voters to the polls. The volunteers you’ve recruited during the campaign season should knock on as many doors and make as many last minute phone calls reminding people to vote as they can.
If you live in an early voting state, encourage your voters to vote early. An early vote doesn’t count more than another, but getting the confirmation of the vote is important in and of itself, because that’s one less door to knock on or phone number to call on Election Day.
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