Thread by @emilyslist

Clean up your internet presence! Untag yourself from bad or old photos (or ask your friends to take them down entirely). Lock down your privacy settings. Delete accounts on websites you no longer use.

Consider your security plan. Heck, even if you don't run for office, do you have the same password for everything? Do you use 2-factor authentication? Check out tools like password managers or Yubi keys.

Write your personal story — the one only YOU can tell.

Here's a formula:
1. Situation (describe a defining moment)
2. Reaction (how you reacted)
3. Resolve (how this inspired you to take action)
4. Ask & Connect (ask audience to take action with you)

Now, it's your turn.

Go on a listening tour. Meet as many people in your community as you can. Ask them all: "What are you passionate about? What keeps you up at night?" Learn what excites and concerns people of varied backgrounds in your district.

Comb through your entire life for potential grassroots donors (known as rolodexing). Make a list of everyone you've ever known: classmates & teachers from school, current & former colleagues, family, friends, & more. This will be the foundation of your initial fundraising.

Prepare your friends and family. Only one name goes on the ballot, but running for office is *not* a solo endeavor. Have intentional conversations BEFORE YOU RUN with your partner, children, parents, and close friends about how your and their lives may change. Prepare together!

Learn your filing requirements. No matter the office, to get your name on a ballot, you *have* to file. What does your state require? Proof of residency? Thousands of signatures? A fee? Research what you'll need from your local election board.

Attend a candidate training. No one intuitively just KNOWS how to run. They learn! Get a head start by training with professionals. And we'd be remiss not to mention: we're training pro-choice Dem women around the country this year (for free!): emilyslist.org/run-to-win/tra…

Become a more active and visible member of your community. You *don't* have to be a policy expert or lawyer to run for office, but you *do* have to demonstrate that you have been active with local clubs and organizations that focus on issues you're passionate about.

Compile a research document on yourself. What could an opponent dig up on you? Make note of all public statements/press, voting records, all online accounts (including dating and social media), educational transcripts, etc. Be prepared to respond to anything that could come up.

Post with purpose. You've already cleaned up your internet presence, so post on social media with your political future in mind. Post about issues and candidates you care about. Create a paper trail of your online activism.

Practice fundraising. It's a learnable skill. Volunteer to raise money for another candidate or organization. Get used to making a hard ask, and get used to hearing no. It will make you stronger when you begin fundraising for your own campaign!

Get acquainted with the person or people who often know the most about running for office locally. Learn about which offices are available near you and about the intricacies of local government. They're a wealth of knowledge!

Build relationships with former and current elected officials. When you're looking for a new job, you immediately reach out to people who've held that job before. Same theory applies! Learn from the people most familiar with running and what the actual job entails.

Your phone contacts aren't your donor file. After you comb through your entire life and make a list of potential grassroots donors, build a spreadsheet with names, contact info, their relation to you, and the amount you're going to ask them to donate.

Calculate your win number (rough # of votes you'll need to win your primary). Average the % of Dem turnout in your district's last 3 primary elections. Multiply this by the current # of registered Dems, divide by the # of viable candidates in your primary, and add 10% as cushion.

Have a basic campaign website ready to go before you launch. Make donating on your website easy to do with a prominent donate button. Don't forget to include your full name + the office you're running for.

Invest in good walking shoes. Campaigns big and small are won by face-to-face conversations at voters' doors. That means you'll be racking up a lot of steps.

ALWAYS make an ask. Every single interaction you have as a candidate is an opportunity to ask for a donation, a volunteer, or a vote.

As soon as you make any ask to a potential supporter, be quiet immediately. Keep your mouth closed for a full 5-7 seconds. Count it out in your head. If you're on the phone, mute it. Being silent gives the other person a chance to think and respond.

Don't forget about digital. Digital organizing, fundraising, and advertising should not be afterthoughts to your campaign; instead, make them cornerstones. Incorporate email, social media, and SMS into every aspect of your campaign.

Yard signs don't vote. Neither do stickers. Or pens. Or t-shirts. Instead of investing in swag, invest in direct voter contact. You'll be glad you did.

Write a finance plan that outlines realistic goals + how you plan on achieving them. If you're already running and haven't made finance plan yet, it's never too late to write one. It's a living document! Let it guide the day-to-day of your campaign from day 1 to Election Day.

Make sure your volunteers look like your district. Recruit (and work hard to keep) volunteers who accurately represent the diversity of your community. If a portion of your community speaks another language, send volunteers who speak that language when knocking doors.

Learn how to make a hard ask. When talking to a potential volunteer or donor, be SPECIFIC. "Can you volunteer to knock doors on Friday at 6 pm?" "Can you donate $50 today to help us get our website up and running?"

No one runs for office alone. And there is no shame in asking for *a lot* of help. Even if your campaign cannot hire paid staff, surround yourself with family, friends, and volunteers who can pitch in.

Stay healthy! Campaigns are stressful, and staying healthy is a winning tactic. Drink water. Get sleep. Take occasional nights off to be with loved ones. Eat a vegetable every now and then. Don't skip therapy appointments.

Ready to learn more?

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