It seems every election year is touted as “the most important of our lifetime.” But why is that? In part, it is because politics is no longer a passive sport for many – as legislation and policies increasingly target or benefit our communities. It makes getting off the sidelines and into the arena more crucial than ever. With so many marginalized communities severely underrepresented in decision-making rooms, the resulting policy choices, funding allocations, and other important laws are often skewed against the LGBTQ+ community.
As the saying goes, if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. At LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, we know that representation is power. That is why we need you – yes, YOU! – to consider running for office.
We can make sure you have all of the tools you need to not just run – but WIN! LGBTQ+ folks have always been underrepresented in elected office – and often times with devastating results. It’s not just bills about LGBTQ+ people, but all bills that affect LGBTQ+ people – climate change, bodily autonomy, reproductive rights and so many other issues. LGBTQ+ voices matter in every decision.
We need more LGBTQ+ folks to run for office. Here’s how you can be one of them:
What does it mean to “run for office”?
To run for office is to campaign for an elected position in government. Folks connect with their communities and gain their support to be the community’s representative voice. Campaigning is both an art and a science. It is a science in that there are hard skills one can learn to be a strong campaigner (determining vote goals, fundraising, getting out the vote), but it also an art in that there are several aspects to campaigns that require the right balance of charisma and personality.
Sneak peak: want to learn the hard campaign skills? Click here for more information!
Can anyone run for office?
Absolutely!
Some offices may have age requirements or professional qualifications, but most offices, especially local offices, are open to anyone who runs. But just because anyone CAN run, doesn’t mean that they do. LGBTQ+ people are less likely to run for office. In fact, studies show they have to be asked multiple times before they will consider running. LGBTQ+ Victory Institute asks every qualified LGBTQ+ person with a passion for public service to consider a run – and we are here to provide the tools and skills to those who may not know where to start.
How many times have you said to yourself, “that candidate is barely even qualified to run!” Now imagine replacing them with a more qualified and community-backed alternative (hint: that’s you!)
Why run for office NOW?
Why not? What are you waiting for? This is the most important election of our lifetime, after all.
Very often, our own perspectives on issues and pertinent life experiences are missing from the platforms of the candidates we get to choose from. Well, why wait for someone else’s platform to represent us when our voice is what needs to be amplified? You are the one who understands your community best and knows which issues need to be addressed. You know your neighbors and family and their wants and needs for a better future. So why not run for office now?
Don’t wait for a big general election year to decide to run – plant the seeds in advance and get your operation started early. Last-minute campaigns seldom succeed in the fast-paced political world.
How do I know what I can run for?
Did you know there are over 500,000 elected positions in the U.S.? In fact, most of those (around 98%) are local positions (this includes school boards, city councils, auditors, clerks, public works commissions, and many other roles). Elections happen every year (including special elections that happen sporadically). The best place to find what you can run for is by going to your local Board of Elections. Our team has also put together a great resource where you can track open positions by your zip code. Click here to explore open positions!
To understand what you can run for, also know there are many public offices that are not full-time (either part-time during the week or only seasonal throughout the year). That means that you can keep your full-time profession and other obligations while simultaneously engaging with your community on a more formal level through an elected position. It is more attainable than you think!
Do you need experience to run for office?
Everyone gets their start somewhere, but you also need to give voters a reason to elect you. Think about what your community profile is like. Are you seen as a leader and someone who is known to volunteer for organizations, committees, or boards? Are you a well-known figure in your children’s school? Is your professional experience something that resonates with your neighbors and friends? Are you an activist fighting for your community?
Running is not just for those with a law degree (a common misconception). It is for those who have engaged with their community and have experiences that will benefit the people around them – of ALL professional backgrounds.
Running for office is like applying to a job – you want to match the job to the experience you have. A strong candidate can explain to voters what their value-add is as a representative for their community. What are you bringing to your future in public office AND how are you best equipped to represent your community in that role?
What does a campaign look like?
Campaigning looks different for every community – some races are smaller in scope while some are larger (think about a school board race in an urban city vs. a rural town, or a city council race vs. a U.S. Senate race). Part of preparing for victory when campaigning is understanding the opportunities and challenges that exist in your race. This includes how much money you need to raise, how many doors you need to knock, what the parameters of your race will be, and much more.
So now what? Where do I start?
You’re not in this alone! LGBTQ+ Victory Institute is here to help set LGBTQ+ people like you up for success. We run several training programs to teach LGBTQ+ folks everything they need to know about winning their campaigns!
Learn more about our LGBTQ+ Candidate & Campaign Trainings here. We also have many other resources and opportunities on our website (victoryinstitute.org/trainings) that give you the information to succeed. Your success is our success – and we want to see you win!
If you’re looking to run for office or just explore what it means, get in touch with us at training@victoryinstitute.org.
Remember, don’t get mad – get elected!
