03-12-2018, 02:47 PM
So I helped two people make runs last year (we are an off-year state), when the first one didn't win the firehouse primary because of the Bernie contingent, I helped the Bernie bro make his run. He lost (the one I helped run against him, she would've won, but that's a long story) but I learned a good bit.
1. Name recognition and local issues are more important than anything going on at the state level. This was at least my experience here. So many issues talked about in the state races didn't mean shit to our local folks.
2. There is a right time for certain types of candidates. The general race consisted of two local boys, born and bred, running against each other. The incumbent didn't talk issues much, the challenger was a Bernie bro organizer. What mattered more between those two was the name. We have a female wave in Virginia last year, though, and had the woman I was helping at first been in the general she could've taken the race. Moral of the story: pay attention to the context in which you are running. You won't be on a party ticket, so you don't have to worry about this part, but that matters at times.
3. Connections to big local institutions is huge. I don't really think this needs further explaining.
4. Expect to take the whole month of October up until election day off from work. Not even joking, it's that much effort.
5. Get the most organized person you know to help you out.
1. Name recognition and local issues are more important than anything going on at the state level. This was at least my experience here. So many issues talked about in the state races didn't mean shit to our local folks.
2. There is a right time for certain types of candidates. The general race consisted of two local boys, born and bred, running against each other. The incumbent didn't talk issues much, the challenger was a Bernie bro organizer. What mattered more between those two was the name. We have a female wave in Virginia last year, though, and had the woman I was helping at first been in the general she could've taken the race. Moral of the story: pay attention to the context in which you are running. You won't be on a party ticket, so you don't have to worry about this part, but that matters at times.
3. Connections to big local institutions is huge. I don't really think this needs further explaining.
4. Expect to take the whole month of October up until election day off from work. Not even joking, it's that much effort.
5. Get the most organized person you know to help you out.
"A great democracy has got to be progressive, or it will soon cease to be either great or a democracy..." - TR
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." - FDR
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." - FDR
