Running for Office … Deciding Your Future
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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:
Write Down 3 Reasons you would vote for yourself if you were running
Write down 3 experiences you have that you believe qualify you for office.
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.
