You Can’t Win If You Don’t Know How to Count–Part 1

Knowing your win number is a key part of election strategy (Photo by Mikhail Nilov)

If you’re reading this newsletter, I think I’m safe in saying that you would like to be a candidate in an upcoming election and that not only do you want to run, you would like to win.

This is part one of a complicated formula that will help get you there. And, if you can’t understand this basic building block of formulating a winning campaign, you’re path to victory is going to be a rocky one at best.

You might be surprised if I were to tell you that there is one thing necessary to winning campaigns more important than just talking to voters, but it’s true. It’s WHO you talk to and it’s the basis of a winning strategy.

It all starts with determining your win number. That is the number of votes you need to have in order to beat your opponent - 50% of total voters, plus one*. And you do that by targeting the people most likely to vote for you on election day.

The question is how do you determine that number?

Rochester Congressman Joe Morelle once told me:

“Winning all depends on knowing how to count. And, election turnout is one of the few things in life where you can foretell the future. Kind of like the weather. You can guess what voters are going to do in the future by what they’ve done in the past.”

So, to determine your win number, you look at turnout in elections that are most like the one you are going to run in**.

The biggest mistake people make is to include campaigns with turnout you WISH were like yours and not the ones that are REALLY like yours. An example would be including a presidential year when you’re running in an off-year election for your local town council.

Here’s an example that might help you better understand the concept.

In an important Rochester City Council election some years back, our candidate was running for an open seat (“open” meaning there was no incumbent running). To determine how many votes we needed to win, we took an average of several recent council elections to give us an expected turnout number. You can get the history of past elections at your County’s Board of Elections. (Or State BOE if your contest runs over county lines as it the case with state legislature elections.)

This new race promised to be particularly competitive, so we had to find every possible voter who either has voted in a like election or who might vote. To expand that universe, we looked at who voted in ANY council election from the NW District. Based upon this information we determined that anywhere from 1,450 to 1500 people vote in the NW district for City Council Elections. That meant the number of votes we needed for victory was 50% plus 1 of 1,500 votes… 751.

In the end, 1482 people cast a vote for one of the two city council candidates. We won with 52.4% of the vote … 776 votes.

Right on the money.

Want to win? Then know your win number

*Ian Philips, who has won more campaigns than I can name, is always thinking outside the box and has a modification of this number that makes sense. He advises searching for 52% plus one … just to be on the safe side. Good advice.

**It is also important because most endorsement interviews you go to will start with asking a few basic questions, among them is “What is Your Win Number”. If you don’t know it, they won’t take you seriously.

NY Matching Funds Program Makes Everyone a Fat Cat Donor

New York’s matching funds program is the greatest thing to happen to grassroots campaigns since the invention of the spreadsheet. (Shutterstock photo from Iryna Kuznetsova)

New York’s matching funds program for state legislature candidates may be the best thing that’s happened to elections since the invention of the spreadsheet. It means that with matching funds for grassroots fundraising, even political newcomers can raise the money to compete competitively.

I want to give you a little idea of how New York’s matching fund program works by giving you a practical application of the system.

We’re running a fundraiser for a State Senator running for re-election. And in our little town, putting together two coins to run for office is difficult even on a good day. It’s even harder when we are literally in the farthest corner of the district as you can get. Fortunately, the Senator has spent a lot of time here, making it easier for people to donate to someone they actually have gotten to know.

So, we start with the list. And, we came up with 35 or 40 friends and family who we could count on.

Even so, if we wanted to raise $1,000 on $20 donations, we would need 50 people to open their wallets to fork over an Andrew Jackson. Not likely.

But, with new matching funds, here’s how the formula works out:

So in our case, we got a few people to put in $250 … the maximum but the rest were $20’s. Here’s where we stand with the event just a week away.

We’ve raised $1,190 in pledges which turns into $12,830 with matching funds.

That makes grassroots donors every bit as important as donations from the big guys. Remember, the limit for big donors is $5,000. And, a lot of political dinners run $2,500 (and more) for a table.

With New York’s matching funds program There’s a maximum of a $250 donation to qualify for matching funds which turns into $2,550, making all donors fat cats!

The $ 100-a-plate dinner just went from Steak to Hamburgers! And, It means that even YOU can run for office where even $5 bucks can make a difference!

You can check out the Public Financing Program by clicking here.

My 6 Rules for Creating a Strong Message

Rachel may and her daughter at the moment she realized she won. (Photo by the Author)

“Too many progressives make the mistake of believing people are galvanized around ten-point programs. They are not!  People respond according to their sense of right and wrong. They respond to a leadership of values.”
                                                                                                  -- Paul Wellstone

There is one common thread that weaves through all the winning campaigns I’ve worked on.  The candidates had a reason to be running and they were willing to tell voters where they stood on the issues. It isn’t enough to just want to be involved. You have to be able to contrast yourself from the person you’re running against and consequently, give voters a reason to vote for you.

That’s where messaging comes in. You need a theme for your campaign. And, the message that convinces voters that you’re the one who can bring it home.

You’ll get your message out in several ways including (in no particular order):

• Candidate’s Website

• Facebook Page and regular postings

• Facebook ads

• Local newspaper/shopper print ads

• Instagram

• “X” (formerly known as Twitter)

• Letters to the editor of local news outlets

• Direct Mail

• Text messages

• Local appearances and Elevator Speech

In 2019, now New York State Senator Rachel May, long-time progressive activist in New York’s 48th Senate District and a newcomer as a candidate, ran for New York State Senate and won.

She took on a formidable incumbent. Senator David Valesky was a 14-year veteran with a war chest the size of Fort Knox. He was a Democrat, but vice-chair of what was called the Independent Democratic Conference. The IDC as it was known was a group of Democrats who (some say at the behest of then Governor Andrew Cuomo) sided with the Republican minority in the Senate to support conservative legislation.

This infamous group included eight members who stopped the passage of several pieces of important progressive legislation. But had unlimited resources and the advantage of incumbency.

He was impossible to beat.

Yet, the 2019 election saw six of the eight IDC members lose their elections …. And Mr. Valesky was one of them.

Rachel May won because she had a reason to beat the other guy. She won because she had a message. She won because she put in the hard work necessary to get that message out to the voters.

Here’s a link to her elevator speech which is among the finest I’ve ever seen.

As you create your own theme and message, here are a few thoughts to help you along.

Rule # 1: Be For Something … Not just against someone.

When Republican Elise Stefanik was running for re-election in New York’s 21st Congressional District, several excellent progressive Democrats flocked to run against her. Stefanik had yet to show her true colors and was elected as a moderate. But slowly, she began to see which side her bread was buttered on, and slowly aligned herself with Donald Trump. There was a highly contentious primary among Democrats and the winner had great qualifications.

But, seeing Stefanik start to move to the right, her Democrat challenger chose to craft a message about the Congressmember’s politics and not the issues important to the voters in the district. She shunned the endorsement of progressives like the Working Families Party which would have helped define her as a viable alternative.

Her message never resonated because it wasn’t clear what she was for, only who she was against.

• Your campaign theme and subsequent messaging should be about what you believe.

• Your messaging must address the issues important to the voters you’re trying to reach.

• You have to illustrate a contrast between yourself from your opposition.

The point here is that she lost because she ran AGAINST someone … not FOR something.

RULE # 2 – Contrast Yourself from Your Opponent.

If you’re running against a Republican, and you’re messaging appears to say that you are “Republican Lite”, voters will choose the REAL Republican every time. Choice Matters.

A great progressive from the North Country became a candidate for NYS Senate at the last minute, and a dedicated group of liberal folks I know spent 10 long, grueling days getting her 2,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot. There were (and still are) a ton of people who don’t have proper medical insurance coverage in that area and her main theme while collecting signatures was the need to elect someone who would support “Medicare for All”. Within a week after her place on the ballot was secured, she recruited a Campaign Manager who happened to be connected to the insurance industry. He quickly convinced her to drop the issue. When I asked her about it she replied, “I can’t say that, no one will vote for me.” And, she turned into “Republican Lite”.

She was right about one thing. No one did.

Remember:

• You need to compare and contrast yourself with your opponent.

• The only thing that makes “Lite Beer” a beer is that it comes in a can. True beer aficionados won’t touch the stuff. “Republican Lite” Democrat candidates will not convince any Republicans to vote for them, and they’ll lose the support of their Democrat base.

• Make sure your message would make you vote for yourself.

Rule # 3 – Like the State Lottery “Pick 3”

Look to the people you know and respect to determine the issues important to voters in your district. Has the neighborhood been victim to Amazon Pirates stealing packages from doorsteps? Has crime become rampant? Is there a lack of sidewalks along busy streets? Attend the board or legislature meetings and listen to what people are saying. Determine what the issues are and pick the top three that conform with your theme.

Remember:

• Just like Goldilocks. 2 issues is too cold. Ten issues is too hot. But three issues is just right because people REMEMBER THEM.

• Once you’ve chosen the issues that resonate with your district, take the time to craft them into a simple message. Hammer them out. Spin them. Make them the core of your elevator speech. Then say them over and over and over again. And don’t change issues mid-campaign because you got bored with them.

• The only one I know who had a ten-point program was God with the Ten Commandments and look how THAT’s turning out.

Rule # 4 – Make it Personal Tell Stories About Yourself

Everyone is going to need an Elevator Speech The name comes from the notion that the speech should be delivered in the short time period of an elevator ride, usually 20-60 seconds.

It may not be 60 seconds but in the words of my friend Malik Evans who is now Mayor of the City of Rochester who said, “Be Brief Brother, Be Brief”. Connect with your audience.

• Know your personal story and understand how your story informs your politics.

• Understand and articulate your core values and beliefs.

• Be clear about your motivation. Answer the question, “Why do I want to run?” And does the message make me want to vote for me.

Make sure you ASK to take action. Compel them to join with you. Ask them to vote for you because you are the obvious choice. State the problem…. And demonstrate how you are the solution.

My Rule # 5 -- “When All Else Fails, Tell the Truth

A famous politician once said. “When you are taking a controversial position if you believe it and you argue it, you can convince enough people that even if they don’t agree with you, they’ll appreciate that you stand for something.”

• Don’t Lie. Please. And, don’t be afraid to tell the truth.

• If you’re going to say something just to be elected you shouldn’t be running.

• Avoid saying, “Let me be honest with you”, it subtly makes people wonder if you weren’t being honest at a prior time.

• Say what you believe.

Rule # 6: Once you have your message say it over and over again!

You probably don’t like boxing but I do … or used to. Cause I’m old. Here’s a link to a story about a famous boxing match between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield as told by James Carville. It’s the best example of how to remain on message I’ve ever read.

It’s from the book he and Paul Begala wrote called: Buck Up, Suck Up and Come Back When You Foul Up Simon & Schuster p. 124 Repitition under fire

 Staying On Message

Remember:

• Stay on message.

• Remember, just because someone asked you a question, doesn’t mean you have to answer it. Stick to your message.

• If you don’t want to believe me, believe James Carville. He got Bill Clinton Elected President

It's Never Too Early to Start Planning ...

What you do now will help determine your future. (Shutterstock Photo from GaudiLab)

(Please Note: I’ve included the following thanks to Steve Redler, a great activist from the Albany Region who is the author of the Running for Office Guide. He includes several important tips about planning and I’ve included several them here. It’s great advice!)

One Year Out

 “Hopefully you have led a life of community involvement and volunteer work to show the voters you care about the community.  If not, you should start ASAP going to neighborhood association meetings, and get involved with other community organizations.  Voters like to see candidates who volunteer and are concerned about the community.  Get to know the issues.  Seek out different perspectives on issues to broaden your understanding.”

Steve also recommends the following:

• Review the website of the governmental entity

• Go to a meeting of the governmental entity

• Talk to friends and relatives

• Talk to potential allies and influencers in your community

• Find out who is also considering running

• Talk to candidates who have run before and consider asking for their support.

• Speak to those who are already serving or served in that office or similar offices to find out what are the time expectations once you are in office.

• Be a good listener! Try to find out what issues or concerns are important to members of your community.

Staying on Message: An Example from Carville & Begala

From the book Buck Up, Suck Up . . . and Come Back When You Foul Up: 12 Winning Secrets from the War Room (Carville, James)

“On November 9, 1996, Evander Holyfield stunned the boxing world and won the heavyweight championship with an eleventh-round technical knockout (TKO) against the heavily favored and seemingly indestructible Mike Tyson. Still dripping with sweat and panting from his exertion, Holyfield was interviewed in the ring by “the Fight Doctor,” Ferdie Pacheco.

Normally such interviews are brief and uneventful. The fighter is usually too tired or too inarticulate (or both) to shed any meaningful light on the bout he’s just completed. But this interview was different. In addition to being a fighter, Evander Holyfield was a man on a mission, and his mission was to deliver a message to the millions of people who all of a sudden wanted to hear from him. Here’s how the interview went.

PACHECO: That’s one of the biggest surprises in boxing I’ve ever had.

HOLYFIELD: Well, you know, I give glory to God, and I want for everybody to know that you can’t choose against God. You can choose against me anytime, but when God is involved, Jesus is alive and He’s the credit for it, and I thank God.

PACHECO: Why did you guarantee it with such assurance?

HOLYFIELD: Because anytime when someone puts God up there, my God is the only true God and everything must bow to God.

PACHECO: Well, you know, apart from that, apart from religion because God is here, I hope for all of us. I hope He’s a just God. But let’s get off that, let’s get on to boxing: How did you fight such a brilliant fight?

HOLYFIELD: Well, you know, I live by the Spirit of God, and like I told everybody, whatever the Spirit leads me to do that’s what I would do. And it wasn’t nothing so much that I did. Everybody knew that I was a wash-up, but with God I’m not washed up. PACHECO: Did you see him getting tired? Did you think you could take him on at the end?

HOLYFIELD: It wasn’t about tired. It was about what the Lord wanted me to do. And each and every round—I went out there and I fought competitive each round. I wasn’t giving up anything. I went to the point to take one round at a time. I realized how competitive he was, and he caught me with good shots, but I thank God for allowing me to absorb the shots.

Fifteen times—in response to just four questions—Holyfield returned to his basic message. He wanted to tell the world about his relationship with God, so he told them. Again and again Holyfield had the presence of mind to slip the reporter’s narrow, tactical questions and deliver the message he wanted to deliver. Holyfield doesn’t have an Ivy League education. He wasn’t reading off of focus-group-tested talking points. He did not have the benefit of a TelePrompTer. He simply stood, alone, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts and a pair of boxing gloves, and gave a performance of message discipline as impressive in its way as his destruction of Tyson in the ring had been.

This exchange is also instructive in that it is a classic example of how an interview develops. Notice how Pacheco begins with an open-ended comment, inviting Holyfield to say whatever he wants. Pachero may as well have begun by saying, “Anything on your mind, champ?” But with each question Pacheco gets more specific. And then he gets annoyed. This seems foolish to us; given that Holyfield had just finished kicking Mike Tyson’s ass, we have a hard time imagining the new champ was very intimidated by “the Fight Doctor.” But that’s the nature of interviewing.

Pacheco wants Holyfield to be an analyst. Holyfield wants to be an evangelist. It’s a contest of wills, and Holyfield wins in a knockout.”

Here’s How We Just Won Again in Northern Cayuga County

And the “bad guys” are getting really, really nervous about it. They believe that we’re plotting a Democrat takeover that has them calling us wolves in sheep’s clothing and seeing socialists behind every tree, immigrants invading our schools, and even communists under every rock.

The Mayoral candidate we ran on an Independent Line and won is a Democrat. It appears he is the first Democrat Mayor ever. And, in one door-to-door encounter, he was asked by a potential voter. “What are you going to do when busloads of Mexicans get dropped off on Main Street?”

The Mayor of this sleepy little tourist town on the North Coast of America (Lake Ontario) has nothing to do with immigrants one way or another.

Except that our Village is in the 2nd largest apple-growing region in the United States and the industry depends almost entirely on migrant labor.

It may seem a small point but it’s an indication that there are a ton of MAGA people among the electorate. “Fuck Biden” flags fly along the roads in our rural farmland. Trump banners fly along the quaint Main Street. And, the County itself from top to bottom votes staunchly Republican … except for the County seat which is firmly Democrat.

So how did we win?

By appealing to Unaffiliated voters and with a message that “There is no red or blue in local elections … only community”.

Unaffiliated voters used to be called “Blanks”. But the more politically appropriate term is now “Unafilliated” which means they chose not to register in any political party. And, they’re the fastest growing group of voters across the United States … still just behind Democrats, but pushing Republicans to an oddly placed third party choice.

Even in North Carolina … in the news lately and which is so far to the right their cars don't even turn left, registrations of unaffiliated in the MAGA state outpace Republicans.

So what does all this mean to local elections in 2025?

Simple..

To win, you need to turn out the sleepy Democratic base who has stopped voting in local elections because they haven’t had a choice at the ballot box, and appeal to Unaffiliated voters who make up a healthy portion of the electorate.

It equals a win.

Democrats for too long spend all their GOTV efforts to just get out their base. Difficult when year after year after year, there is no reason to come out and vote for Blue Democrats in Red Republican country. We’re underfunded, inexperienced, and generally are labeled as sacrificial lambs.

In this political climate, what we really need to do is expand by following two simple precepts:

1.)  Make sure Democrats know there is a competitive election, messaging: “This is going to be a close election… very close and your vote counts!”

2.)  Educate Unaffiliated voters that the Democrat is not a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but instead, “Your neighbor who believes that red and blue should be left to national politics. What we need to do is take care of ourselves”.

How it’s done is important. And it’s messaging, pure and simple. (We’ll be going in-depth on messaging in the future, but this is a start.)

Show Me The Money!

Fundraising is an integral part of campaigning. We’re out to change america here … and raising cash is a part of it. (Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash )

People often say that success doesn’t last.

Well, neither does bathing –

that’s why we recommend it daily.

--Zig Ziglar

Over the last 5 decades, I’ve worked with hundreds of candidates. And, if I were to ask every one of them what they hated most about running for office, the universal answer would be:

“Asking people to give me money”.

But here is a simple lesson I’ve learned about winning a campaign:

Show me a candidate who won’t do call time – sitting down for hours to dial for dollars -- and I will show you a loser.

Money = Success. And you can only do it if you do it every day. Running for office isn’t easy. But knowing what to do is simple. As a candidate, you have three simple tasks:

1.   Talk to Voters

2.   Raise Money

3.   Repeat

And the money part is every bit as important as the talking part. The revulsion to raising money all comes down to a simple misunderstanding about the nature of raising campaign cash. Remember …

·      You aren’t asking for money for yourself. It ain’t your money.

Last I checked, you don’t keep any of this cash, unless you want to end up in court like George Santos. It all goes toward the campaign.

So, if you’ve got a reason to run. And a story to tell, issues that need to be addressed, and a mission to win the election to change America … start every moment of call time by repeating the following to yourself:

I’m not asking money for me … I’m asking money to change America. 

Here’s a sample of what you’re raising the money for. And it isn’t a vacation to Antigua.

Some dollars and sense facts about the costs of running a campaign.

• Creating a professional logo design for your campaign costs at least $400.00.

• It costs about $1 to design print, address, and put postage on a piece of mail. So if you’ve got a universe of 2,000 voters it adds up quickly!

• Lawn signs cost between six and eight dollars each. These days, the stakes to hold them up are a buck and a half!

• Made in USA T-Shirts with your name on them can cost upwards of $15 to $20 bucks.

• Buying a week's worth of TV time in a place like Rochester, New York costs between 65 k and 100 k – not including production.

• Hiring a good campaign manager will cost you $5,000 to $10,000 a month.

 And all of this doesn’t include the incidentals of gas to go door to door, pizza for volunteers, cell phones, banners … it goes on and on, but we’ll leave those details for another day.

Before you start raising money for all these goodies, you have to ask yourself how much money you can invest in your own cause. It may just be $50.00 or it may be $5,000. But you have to start somewhere. Knowing what investment you’re making somehow makes it easier to ask other people to make a donation to further the cause.

Once you’ve decided on that, there’s an exercise to go through on your yellow pad that later can be turned into a solid plan.

Create Your Life List.

Begin by thinking of every person you know who might have $5 to give to your campaign, or $50, or $1OO. There’s your Mother. Your best friend. Your rich Uncle. Your sorority sisters. Your fellow political committee people. Anyone!

I had a County Legislature candidate who was a master at this. Most nights, she started knocking on doors at around 5:30 to give people time to get home from work. And, she kept it up until dark. But once the sun went down, she hit the phones with one goal… she wouldn’t stop calling until she got three donations. It may have been $20 from a friend or a promise of $50 from her cousin. But she kept calling. And, almost every night was rewarded with a surprise for her effort. The best was a random call to her 12th-grade social studies teacher who always encouraged her toward activism.

That one last call got her $500 Bucks!

How much they can give isn’t as important as categorizing them. So try this simple exercise.

Write down how many people do I know who can give me $1,000? And even if it’s only one or two, it’s a good place to begin. You probably know more people than you realize.. After you’ve done the first grand, go on to the rest:

• How many people can give me $500?

• How many people can give me $250?

• How many people can give me $100?

• How many people can give me $50?

• How many people can give me $25?

• How many people can give me $5?

Don’t worry about being exact. Worry about including everyone you can think of. I guarantee you’ll be surprised at the total you’ll come up when you’re done.

How Much do I need? To give you a little incentive, here’s a last argument for spending time to make the money you will have to spend to win on election day.

 It can be a little daunting, but here is an introduction. Later, I’ll be doing a piece about budgeting and even the details of keeping track of the oodles of money you’ll raise. I’ll even give you some samples of fundraising letters, a phone script, and ideas for events to help make it more fun than call time.

But here are a last few pieces of good news that will (hopefully) inspire you to meet your goals.

Leads are free.

Once you’ve got your life list done, you can start doing a little research. You can get lists and lists and lists of potentials online. Head over to the State Board of Elections Website, and you can get lists of donors to every elected official imaginable, from your local Town Board members to State Senators to local political committees. Names. Addresses. Prospects. https://elections.ny.gov/

Digital Advertising is cheap.
Text messages are pennies a piece.

Throwing a few hundred dollars at Facebook and Instagram will get you an amazing amount of exposure.

Call programs to help you raise the money come in all shapes, sizes, and costs. And, can keep you organized and moving. For not much you can even get a program on your phone to call while you’re driving

And even more good news.

NYS Has a matching program for candidates for state office so that if you raise $5.00, it turns into $65.00. Go here to learn about it.

 ***

Fundraising may not be the easiest part of your path to change your piece of America, but it’s essential. Keep your eyes on the prize!

Lawn Signs Don’t Vote …

… Another Myth From the Ether

This may seem an untimely piece of advice to be writing about as most of my readers aren’t campaigning yet. However, I’m in the middle of a fiercely contested Mayor’s race in our tiny village, and lawn signs are a hot topic. So, while it’s fresh in my mind, I figured I would pass on my sage advice.

No aspect of campaigning gathers more argument than the subject of lawn signs. On the one hand, they’re expensive. A 24 x 30-sized union-printed sign made of corrugated plastic can cost between five and 6 bucks. The “H” stake required to keep it standing can be at least $2.50.

And that doesn’t include tax and shipping.

Do the math. That’s upwards of $800 and more for 100 lawn signs and you haven’t even started.

That’s part of the reasoning detractors argue… “Lawn Signs Don’t Vote”.

But let me present the other side of this much-flipped and dented coin.

In a lot of local elections, people aren’t used to going out and voting. They don’t even know there IS an election. And too many local contests go unchallenged.

So to let people know you’re running and that there even is an election, here are three ways to keep the cost down.

1.)  Do a lawn sign fundraiser! In a County Legislature campaign, we took a bright Sunday afternoon and put together a picnic with a $20 suggested donation for which attendees got some food (all was donated), some music, (also donated), and … a lawn sign. Some people wanted more than one because they lived on a corner or had a long lot on a main road, so they ended up paying twenty bucks a piece and we didn’t even have to ask them!

2.)  Use a smaller sign. A well-designed 18 x 24 can do just as much as something larger. Remember it’s the NAME that matters. I’ve even seen 8 x 24s that can easily do the trick and you can bring down the cost considerably.

3.)  SAVE the STAKES. True, the cost of signs is high. But the “H” stake cost is almost worse! If you’re a local committee, save the stakes from elections each year. It will turn into savings for future elections. In the last local campaign for town offices, we put out a call to veteran campaigners and ended up with 400 free stakes with just one email!

Here are a few tips on how to make a lawn sign initiative work.

1.    Get them UNION Printed! First and foremost, it’s the right thing to do. In fact, all your printed materials should have the “Union Bug”. But the practical side is, that there’s nothing worse than recruiting the local Carpenter’s union to help put up lawn signs only to have them refuse because the printing isn’t union.

2.    One of my top ten rules of campaigns is “Live by the list, die by the list”. Handing out a half dozen lawn signs to your neighbor down the street means that one goes in her front yard, and the rest wind up in their car trunk till after election day. It’s well-meaning. But not a good return on investment. You have to get the name and address of the people you distribute signs to. Here’s why:

• So you can thank the person.

• So you can repair them after Halloween pranksters tear them down.

• So you can put “Vote Tuesday” stickers on them as part of GOTV.

3.    You need to help take them down after the election is over!

Remember: Consider the size and material. Large ones blow over in the wind. Cardboard can get saturated in Autumn storms and last but one season. Plastic Bag ones rip in the wind.

When you get a lawn sign design, it’s the NAME recognition you’re trying to accomplish. Make the name the focal point and don’t forget to put the website on it. It’s your last name they’re looking for on the ballot. And, last but not least, you have to be able to see them at night.

Obviously, I’m a lawn sign fan. And, while Lawn signs may not be able to vote, I can tell you that campaigns that don’t have a well-coordinated lawn sign program rarely win.

New York’s Changes in Election Law Mean More People Will Be Able to Vote!

And, it could mean the difference between winning and losing!

Throughout the years, I’ve attended several State of the State speeches in Albany from our Governors. Consequently, I’m mostly immune to them now, having left almost every one of them with the terrible feeling that, “There’s a day of my life I’ll never get back”.

 So I didn’t watch Governor Hochul’s performance this year and have contented myself with just reading what the pundits say the morning after.

 Yawn.

Yet, I have to admit that I’m a little disappointed by not having paid closer attention. Finally, this Governor addressed several issues regarding the expansion of voting rights that I’ve been advocating for since the invention of the ballot box. What’s strange is that we didn’t do anything about these issues for years and instead just complained about low voter turnout.

Fact is, the main reason we have one of the lowest voter turn-out of democracies in the world is because we make it incredibly difficult to cast a ballot in the first place. According to Pew Research, we rank 31st out of 50 nations world-wide.

If you’re running for office, or planning on it, here are some changes in New York’s election law that should get you up and cheer for.

 Mail-in Voting

Republicans scream that this travesty will lead to massive voter fraud despite evidence from half the United States that mail-in voting does not increase voter fraud at all.

Oregon’s been doing in since 2000. Colorado since 2014 and seven other states from Washington State to Washington D.C. all have vote-by-mail elections. Fifteen other states allow some form of vote-by-mail. And now, New York is going to catch up to voting laws in the 21st century

Of course, Republicans led by Congress Member Elise Stefanik have filed numerous legal challenges to stop us from actually exercising our right to vote, standing in lock-step with her mentor, Donald Trump.

Forget about the fact that it expands the voter franchise as Republicans in general are actually trying to limit voting opportunities rather than expand them.

It also saves money. And, since Ms. Stefanik is constantly screaming about wasteful spending, perhaps this is one way she could get behind this movement.

Most importantly, mail-in-voting allows communities with large populations of transportation-challenged senior citizens like me to exercise their right to vote without having to figure out how they’re going to get to the polls on election day.

Republicans also grouse and growl because more Democrats and Unaffiliated Voters cast their ballots early or took advantage of mail-in-voting during the pandemic.

That’s because Democrats and Unaffiliated Voters outnumber registered Republicans two to one! Of course, there will be more of them.

Duh.

Switching Local Elections to Even Numbered Years

To increase voter turnout (an anathema to most Republicans who want FEWER people to vote rather than more) local elections outside New York City will be moved from odd number years to even. That means elections for everything from Town Clerk to County Legislator will be held at the same time we elect Governors or Presidents.

All of which means more people will vote. It’s long been a statistical fact that the highest voter turnout is in Presidential Election years. The next year, a “local year” is reserved for offices like Town Supervisors, Council members, Highway Superintendents or maybe County Legislators. Voter turnout drops dramatically as these seats are often unopposed, meaning that a lot of voters see no reason to get out and vote at all. The third year of the cycle is the race for Governor which spikes the voting turnout upward, and the fourth year of the cycle goes back to local offices in which barely anyone votes at all.

Moving the local contests to even years when people are voting for President or Governor will dramatically change turnout and expand voter franchise.

Same Day Voter Registration

Last but certainly not least, New Yorkers will finally be able to register to vote on the first day of early voting and then cast their ballot the same day. Antiquated deadlines for registration go back to the days when we used paper for everything … pre-computer, an era half of the population wasn't even alive for.

I worked at the County Board of Elections when I was just 19, and I remember alphabetizing everything by hand and entering everything into huge spiral books. It was cumbersome and it made sense that early registration deadlines were a necessary evil.

But now though, there’s no excuse for it. Almost half the states allow it, and now New York has come into the real world.

 * * *

These are all game-changers for elections. More people will be registering. More people will be voting. And, a lot of these people will be your voters.

The best thing to do is head down to your local Board of Elections and get a full briefing on what this all means.

After all, as long as you’re doing it, you might as well win.

The Future of the Country is in the Hands of Central New Yorkers

Redistricting of 3 districts could change the makeup of Congress

Congressional redistricting in New York is going through its fourth iteration bringing chaos for voters. (Photo by Brett Sayles)

It might come as a surprise to you, but the future of democracy in the United States is not really in the tiny little hands of Donald Trump. It’s firmly in the paws of the sleepy towns in upstate New York. The slim Republican majority in the House is only there because of the redistricting disaster that’s been on stage in New York State since the 2020 census.

Twisting and turning districts meant that three Upstate New York Districts that should have gone to Democrats, went instead to Republicans.

It was so bad, that even Sean Patrick Maloney, head of the Democrat’s Congressional Campaign Committee lost.

Maps are going to have to be drawn yet again and they’ve been done two or three times already, depending upon how you count to three. Republicans are of course outraged, led by that stalwart of high principles, Republican House member Elise Stefanik of District 21. She’s the Congressmember who stood firm against to shenanigans of Donald Trump until, of course, she saw the need to feather her own nest by being his number one supporter.

Now she has the number four ranking Republican in the house hierarchy.

Her outrage is a little disingenuous and ignores a few statistics. To start with, there hasn’t been a statewide elected member of the G.O.P in recent memory. And then, there’s the harsh reality that New York voters who’ve opted to designate as something other than Republican when they register to vote outnumber Republicans 3 to 1. That's 75% of the voters in New York State who are NOT Republicans. That leaves two options:

1. Represent the people of the state in proportion to the people registered.

or

2. Gerrymander things to favor Republicans so they can maintain their hold on power for themselves.

It’s no surprise that New Yorkers ended up with option #2. And, it turned out that it was true to its choice and is a real shit show.

Granted, all this redistricting bother has been so difficult on House members that they’ve had to move. Hell, even one Congressman (Brandon Williams of District 22) doesn't live in the district he was elected to represent even though the law says he had to move into it by the time he took office. But then again, members of Congress are above the law, right? He only has to obey the rules when they suit him just like you and me, right? Well, not like you and me, but like the elite echelon he is a member of.

Poor Congress member Claudia Tenney had to move at least twice through several counties to end up in a district that goes hundreds of miles down and over the state so that it encompasses as many Republicans as is necessary to keep her in office. It’s such a weirdly shaped district that it gives even gerrymandering a bad name. But let’s face it, she’ll move anywhere she needs to to stay in power.

Granted, all of this redistricting makes it look like the Marx Brothers are running state government instead of rational human beings. But fair is fair, and the law is the law … or so they tell me. Just ask Brandon Williams.

So, the three districts in Upstate New York that the country needs to put some sanity back in the House of Representatives will once again be re-drawn. But this time, let’s hope, they have some semblance of the reality for the people they represent.

It is, after all, the future of our country that’s at stake.

Three Reasons Why You Should Consider Running for Office in 2025

All politics is local and it’s never too early to start planning.

The County Election by artist George Caleb Bingham, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Here at the beginning of 2024, you might be wondering why I’m posting a story on running for office in 2025. the most important presidential election is happening right now all of our political energy is being poured into this as well as House and State legislature elections. It doesn’t leave much political energy to put into thinking about what happens after this November.

But you should.

That’s because to run for local office, you need to start planning now. National and State elections provide excellent opportunities for political action. And, to do my number one pieces of advice for political candidates: Make Friends.

The day after the polls close in November 2024, people will be scrambling to prepare for running for office in 2025. Start now, and you’ll have a huge leg up. Wait until after November and you’ll find yourself months behind.

Thomas Jefferson, for all his many faults, was a great thinker who once said, “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people”. Well, actually according to his official website, Monticello.org he didn’t say it but apparently would have if he had the chance.

“All Politics is Local” was supposed to be said by legendary Democrat and Speaker of the House in the late 20th Century, Tip O’Neil, but he didn’t originate it either. Apparently, some guy named Byron Price did in July of 1932.

No Matter. Whoever the originators were, they are both wise thoughts and provide a basic argument as to why you should run for political office in 2025.

Democrats in particular are mistakenly ignoring the fact that you can’t present some complicated solutions for our social challenges to the electorate without educating them. Their proposals are valid answers to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything. (Note: it isn’t 42.) And, if they spent more time educating their base and getting them excited about how these concepts affect local issues and elections, voters might actually come out and vote, which could save majorities in the House and Senate in the upcoming election.

Since they aren’t doing it, I’m going to try.

Here are 3 reasons why your candidacy can help save the country.

1. Local elections help voter turnout.

Like Tip O’Neil did or didn’t say, “All politics are local.” And when “casual voters” get excited about a local campaign, they’ll ignore November’s cold and wind and get out to vote. Increased turnout will help elect progressives and Democrats in the mid-term elections thereby saving the House and Senate. The upside of social media is that ordinary people can take back the public discourse and educate people on local issues. It has never been easier … or cheaper to do and (perhaps with the help of an average 10th grader who understands Facebook) you can too.

2. It’s easier than you think to become a candidate.

In New York, anyone who gathers the necessary number of verified voter signatures can do it. Some people view this as an obstacle, but truthfully it ain’t that hard. If you can plan a wedding or a graduation party, you can plan a signature gathering strategy. Most local Democratic Party political committees are in a shambles and starved for candidates to run for office and if you talk to them about it, they will probably welcome you with open arms. Check with your local county Board of Elections office for contact information.

3. If you don’t do it, who will? 

I will tell you who will. Republicans. Conservatives. Old white men who are stuck in the 20th century and who don’t give a damn about issues, are self-interested, and who sneak into office unopposed to push their own agendas. If you don’t run against them, they’ll be elected over and over and over again and run your village, your town, your school board, or your county’s legislature.

And, if you aren’t convinced by these three simple arguments, here’s just one more assignment that should scare you into doing it.

Like to read Horror novels? Or watch scary movies? I’ve got something for you to read that is so devastatingly frightening that it makes a Stephen King book look like a primer for kindergartners.

It’s George Lakoff’s Don’t Think of an Elephant and it documents the insidious rise of conservative Republican thought and action over the last 50 years or so which has transformed America into what Lincoln would have termed, a nation divided against itself.

While through the 1960’s Democrats delighted in the forward march of health care for all, voting rights for minorities and a viable social safety net as instituted by the U.S. Government under President Lyndon Johnson’s “Great Society”, conservatives in this country quietly fought back.

They took over counties, towns, courts, and state legislatures by winning local elections.

Before we knew it, Ronald Raegan and Newt Gingrich bullied their way into a change in American politics that reverberates today in Donald Trump’s dangerous rhetoric and disregard for all things small “d” democratic.

It’s scary stuff.

The book is a clarion call for people everywhere to do something they might never before have considered:

… run for local office!

Yes. You. Young or old. Black, white, or anything in between, you need to start planning how you can throw your hat into the ring and become a candidate.

Black Friday has come and gone with the beginning of the holiday season and now November’s elections become a dim memory to anyone except the people who were candidates. Some won. Some lost. But all who participated by having their name on the ballot have gone through a life-changing experience.

Running for office … mostly all local elections in the first couple of years after a presidential election … is a daunting task for the uninitiated. And yet, going through it gets at the very foundation of our democracy.

“Politics” has become a dirty word and you’ll see that bad politicians are elected by good people who don’t vote. Bad politicians who want you to sit on the sidelines while they win elections and rule with an insidious and dangerous unchallenged hand.

So, plan your work, and work your plan it’s never too early to begin your electoral journey.

Running for Office … Deciding Your Future

You cannot choose your battlefield,
The Gods do that for you;
But you can plant a standard
Where a standard never flew.
― Nathalia Crane

 An unintended consequence of Bernie Sanders's run for President in 2016 was the throngs of motivated political newcomers who listened when he said:

“Run for office. You too can be the next congressman from your district.”

… or senator, or assemblyman, or county legislator, or town board member.

Thousands across the country answered the call, and many went down to defeat because they didn’t have the slightest idea what they were doing or how to do it.

Here’s the story of one person who bucked the trend.

A year later, in the backroom of a bowling alley on the West side of Syracuse, in the waning days of the Autumn of 2017, Political Directors of the Working Families Party hosted a two-day training focused on introducing campaign novices to the ins and outs of running for office. Among those in attendance that day was a Central New Yorker, Rachel May who heard the call. A longtime activist for issues ranging from climate change to voting reform, minimum wage changes to women’s reproductive rights. She was captivated by the step-by-step lessons of the day and wondered out loud about running in her neighborhood.

As it happened, she was a constituent of then New York State Senator, David Valesky, the vice-chair and only upstate member of the Independent Democratic Caucus (IDC). These IDC members were notorious statewide for propping up the Republican majority by voting with them and helping block every piece of progressive legislation introduced in the legislature.

 Mr. Valesky had a war chest overflowing with cash and the advantage of a 14-year incumbency. All of these issues as well as countless others were near and dear to the heart of Rachel May, who went on to beat Valesky in the Democratic Primary in September of 2018 and win the general election in November.

No one thought Rachel May had a chance of winning. Not even Rachel.

She now sits as Senator in the 42nd Senate District beginning her 3rd term.

How did she win?

By staying true to her values. Working Hard. Surrounding herself with good people. Believing in herself. Doing what’s right.

And did I mention working hard?

You can do this too.

***

I ran for office decades ago and when I first became a candidate, I felt a little like I had gone to Church but forgot to put my pants on. Everyone seemed to be looking at me. Questioning. Wondering. Asking themselves

“What makes them think they can be a leader?”

But, there’s something about running for office that wakens the best in a person. A need to serve the community and give something back.

I’m assuming that if you’re reading this, you’re thinking about running for office. Maybe it’s for Senate like Rachel did. Maybe it’s for your town board or the mayor of your village. Perhaps it’s for school board or county legislator. Whatever the case, you can start by making the right decisions and laying the groundwork for success.

Make the Commitment

First things first. If you aren’t in it to win it, get out and let someone else lead the charge. But if you’re ready to take on the battle for your corner of America, then do it. Start today. Make things happen. Make the commitment to the commitment of running. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else is going to either.

Running for office is a life-changing experience. And, win or lose, you have to realize that your life will never be the same.

Start by asking yourself:

• Can I make the time Commitment?

• Can I deal with rejection?

• How much money can I realistically afford to put into this?

• Would I vote for me?

 If you’ve honed your interest in politics by watching the West Wing, take a deep breath and realize – this isn’t it. The team you build will probably have people helping you who are as inexperienced as you are. It’s lonely. It’s humbling. And, It’s hard.

But if you don’t do it, who will?

Start by stopping thinking that because you’ve never been involved in politics you can’t win. Rachel May couldn’t win either and everyone knew it. But she did. You can do it, believe me. And if you don’t believe me … believe Bernie Sanders who knows you can.

Get a Commitment From Your Family

If you’re married, or in a domestic partnership, or have a significant other, boyfriend, or girlfriend you want to have a future with, the very first person you need to get the support of is your family.

Better to get complete (and honest) buy-in from your family in January than a divorce in September.

It’s a fact – running for office is a year-long commitment. It means disruption of your household. It means late nights of knocking on doors. It means being on the telephone raising money when you would rather be curled up on the couch with your hubby and a bowl of popcorn, binge-watching your favorite crime drama.

It’s going to strain the family finances. And not just to buy lawn signs or the next FB ad. You’ll be spending money on lunches, and cookies for meetings, and some beer for your kitchen cabinet, hotdogs.

But no matter how you cut it, it’s going to be an extra line in the family budget and you must get complete buy-in.

And don’t forget the kids either. You might be missing a soccer match or two. You may have to miss that concert. And, you’ll definitely be eating more pizza than ever thought possible.

Running for office means you might not make the weekly Thursday night family dinner till late if at all. Or that you’re going to be walking the neighborhoods till 9:00 every night, or that your weekends will cease to exist and that family vacation? Make it next year.

Remember, It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint!

There’s a lot of time between now and election day. And a lot of things for you to do. Make a plan. Follow it. Stay healthy. Eat right. Exercise. Pace yourself.

As long as you’re doing it, you might as well win.

3 QUICK EXERCISES TO HELP YOU DECIDE:

1. Write Down 3 Reasons you would vote for yourself if you were running

2. Write down 3 experiences you have that you believe qualify you for office.

3. Take a moment to assess your pros and cons. Do it in writing. Like on a yellow pad with a line down the middle. Pros on the left. Cons on the right.

“Most people miss opportunity because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” –Thomas Edison

Make Friends! It’s Rule #1 for Campaigning

Photo by Cytonn Photography on Unsplash

A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation

with the bricks others have thrown at them.

― David Brinkley

It’s a startling realization for new candidates to learn that they will make enemies of people just by getting up in the morning.

When word gets out that you’re going to be the Democratic candidate for Town Board, it’s a pretty sure bet that the Republican you’re going to run against will take you off their Christmas list.

And in many communities, it’s easier to make friends when you have COVID-19 than it is to publicly announce that you’re a Democrat and you want to effect change.

You can’t do it alone. So, it’s a good idea to make all the friends you can. And, to start counting them from day one.

That’s why, my rule #1 of campaigning is to make friends. It’s the foundation of any successful political campaign.

Here are some suggestions on where to start

1.)  Chair of the County Democratic Party:

This is the person who represents the local Democratic Committee and rank-and-file Democrats. In major upstate metropolitan areas, it’s a not-too-well-paid position that is consumed mostly by fundraising … and getting candidates to run for local office. In rural counties, it’s a position often held by an over-worked volunteer. In any case, it’s likely that you’ll be welcomed* as good candidates are hard to come by. Making friends with the Chair first can avoid having them get egg on her face later when they hear from someone else that you’re running. 

*(unless of course, you’re planning on running a primary against a current Democratic Officeholder in which case, you probably want to skip talking to the Chair and start contacting county committee members directly.

2.) Town or Local Democratic Committee Leaders:

The next level down from the County Chair are local Democratic leaders. In Cities, it might be the local Legislative District Leader. In a Town, it might be the town leader. Your local Dem Committee will often be the place to start. And, the Democratic Leader in your county has a lot of influence with other party types.

3.) Democratic Board of Elections Commissioner:

Your County Board of Elections is one of the top resources you can connect with. They can steer you on the State Political Calendar, get you on your way to filling your election committee with the State Board of Elections so you can legally raise money, and help you with lists of voters in your jurisdiction, along with their registration and their voting histories.

4.) Local Democratic Elected Officials:

Reach out to your local County Legislator (if they are a Democrat or WFP), your city council rep. Your state assemblymember or state senator, Mayor, or whoever is a Democrat and holding office. It’s important because they can be a conduit for raising money, and making introductions. And, if you don’t let them know they might get embarrassed when they learn it second or third hand.

5.) Local Political Reporter:

Getting to know this person is crucial as the campaign unfolds. News organizations are shrinking faster than a little kid’s tongue when their popsicle begins to melt. There may not be a full-time reporter who covers things political, but there’s someone. Making it easy for them to report on you will mean you have a better chance of actually getting some coverage.

6.) Local Working Families Party Coordinator:

In elections large and small, having the endorsement of the Working Families Party can make a difference. Not only does it give you a second line on the ballot, it also “brands” you as a progressive candidate. Their endorsement process can be demanding, but in local elections, but it can pay off in votes and volunteers. Note though … in some jurisdictions, labeling yourself as this much of a lefty can inhibit your vote-getting ability. Read your audience. You can always show your progressive colors AFTER you get elected!

SPEAKING OF ADVICE . . .

Here’s some: ASK don’t tell: A lot of people complain because candidates are so full of themselves. But quite frankly, if you don’t have a little self-esteem... maybe a LOT of self-esteem, you can’t bring yourself to knock on every door in your district every night for a whole year. You gotta believe in yourself.

Unfortunately, not everyone always has the same enthusiasm as you do.

That’s why it’s a good thing to ASK people their opinion ... labor leaders, progressive organizations, political operatives ... “I’m thinking of running ... but I wouldn’t make the decision without first consulting you.” goes a long way.

Then say, “Will you support me?”

Start today. Despite the myriad of ways of contacting people in this electronic age, getting them to respond is often harder than it looks. No one answers their phone if they don’t recognize the number. Emails are often ignored. And, many people aren’t used to checking the FB messenger.

Keep track of who you talk to, and thank them for meeting with you!