Announcing Your Candidacy

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Announcing Your Candidacy Table of Contents

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<aside> 👀 You only get one chance to make a first impression so be prepared to make the most of your campaign announcement! By preparing thoughtfully, you can earn free media coverage, recruit volunteers to join your campaign, solicit critical donations, and get your community excited about your candidacy.

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📋 Here’s what to do before announcing your candidacy:

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Enroll in NDTC’s Launch Your Political Campaign training to learn how to launch your campaign with confidence. From getting on the ballot to building your budget and connecting with voters, this multi-course training path will walk you through each step!

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1️⃣ Set Up Your Social Media.

Check out Social Media to learn about creating your social media profiles and posting content that engages voters.

2️⃣ Build Your Website.

While your Website can be simple, especially if you’re running for local office, it should always include these elements:

A. Professional Photo

B. Office Being Sought

C. Brief Biography

D. Update Sign-Up

E. Donation Link

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To make setting up your website easier, we offer a template that lets you plug in your campaign’s information.

Candidate Website

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3️⃣ Prepare to Accept Donations.

This will require establishing an official campaign account and setting up your donation processor (such as ActBlue). Learn more on our Finance page!

4️⃣ Develop an Announcement Plan.

Before announcing your candidacy there are a few important questions to consider:

When will you announce? Avoid announcing your candidacy on a major holiday like Thanksgiving or on the weekend when the traditional press are out of the office.

How will you announce? We recommend using social media, releasing an announcement video, hosting a live stream, sending an email, and holding an in-person event if possible!

What is your message? Prepare a concise, compelling message explaining who you are, why you’re running, and how people can support you. Your announcement messaging - and your campaign communications more generally - should be consistent across all platforms.

<aside> 🧠 Remember: When you should announce your campaign depends on what office you’re seeking. If you’re running for Congress or the state legislature, you should be prepared to make a formal announcement when you file. For smaller local offices, you can likely file and then announce your campaign later on. If you’re wondering when or how to announce your campaign, reach out to our Candidate Support Team at [email protected].

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