Simone Lawson
Running a political campaign is an empowering and worthwhile endeavour, but it can be an intimidating process, especially for newcomers to politics. It is important to have a thorough understanding of how to run a campaign before officially declaring your candidacy. This includes defining your motivations and developing clear stances on issues that resonate with voters. A successful campaign requires a balance of strategy and implementation, with an early start to build relationships, assemble a team, and formulate a campaign strategy. Once the campaign is over, it is crucial to tie up loose ends, such as filing final reports, managing campaign assets, and maintaining relationships with supporters.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Clean up | Be organized about your campaign clean-up, thank people, pay bills, and remind folks of your intentions |
| Inventory | Keep a record of questionnaires, interviews, and articles, and get someone to highlight points of criticism |
| Campaign assets | Document and secure your campaign assets, and decide where they will go |
| Policy | Formulate a policy on who gets to keep the assets, and whether this information can be shared |
| Campaign staff | Have a plan for your campaign staff, and find new employment opportunities for them if necessary |
| Reports | File a final report, and any other required campaign finance reports |
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What You'll Learn
Thank supporters and pay bills
Once your political campaign is over, it's essential to express gratitude to your supporters and take care of any outstanding financial obligations. Here are some detailed steps to guide you through this process:
Thanking Supporters:
- Go beyond emails: While it's easy to send a quick thank-you email, consider going the extra mile. Pick up the phone and call your supporters. A personal phone call shows your sincerity and helps strengthen relationships.
- Send handwritten notes: In today's digital age, a handwritten note stands out. It conveys a more intimate and thoughtful message of appreciation.
- Remind them of your values: Reinforce the reasons behind your campaign. Remind your supporters that you ran for the right reasons, and their contributions were meaningful and valuable.
Paying Bills and Managing Finances:
- Check filing deadlines: Familiarize yourself with the filing deadlines for campaign finance reports. These reports are typically due semiannually on January 15 of each year, but there may be additional requirements, such as runoff reports or special session reports.
- File final reports: Once you expect no further reportable activity, designate and file your final report. This relieves you of the duty to file additional reports and terminates your campaign treasurer appointment.
- Determine leftover funds: Assess whether you have any unexpended contributions or leftover funds/assets. If there are any, you will need to file annual reports disclosing this information.
- Dispose of leftover funds: Dispose of any unexpended contributions within six years of filing your final report. Ensure you follow the specified guidelines for disposing of these funds.
- Develop a policy for campaign assets: Decide who gets to keep the campaign assets, such as equipment, data, and intellectual property. This could be the candidate, manager, fundraiser, or the party. Consult with a lawyer to ensure a proper transfer of assets.
- Inventory and storage: Keep a detailed inventory of all campaign assets and store them securely. Cloud storage and portable hard drives offer affordable and convenient options for protecting your data and digital assets.
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Keep an inventory of campaign statements
Keeping a detailed inventory of campaign statements is an important aspect of a political campaign. This involves meticulously documenting and organising all the statements, positions, and promises made by the candidate throughout the campaign. Here are some key considerations and steps to effectively manage this process:
Firstly, it is crucial to establish a comprehensive system for cataloguing campaign statements. Develop a clear and consistent format for recording statements, including relevant details such as dates, contexts, and specific issues addressed. This ensures that the inventory is well-organised and easily searchable, facilitating quick reference and retrieval of information.
The policy shop plays a pivotal role in this process. They are responsible for preparing policy and position statements, responding to issue-based questionnaires, and crafting talking points for the candidate. Ensure that the policy shop is adequately staffed with individuals who have substantial experience in relevant policy areas. Their expertise will be invaluable in developing coherent and informed campaign statements.
Additionally, it is important to monitor and document the campaign's outreach efforts to various interest groups and communities. This includes constituent liaison work, which can vary in its political sensitivity. By keeping a record of these interactions, the campaign can maintain consistency in its messaging and quickly identify any potential areas of concern or conflict.
Regularly reviewing and updating the inventory is essential. As campaigns are dynamic and fast-paced, new developments and adjustments in positions may occur. Therefore, the inventory should be a living document that reflects the most up-to-date information. This ensures that the campaign team is always working with the most accurate and current set of statements.
Finally, the inventory of campaign statements serves as a valuable resource for the campaign's internal reference and external communication. It helps maintain consistency in the candidate's messaging and can be used to quickly address any discrepancies or misunderstandings that may arise. Additionally, the inventory can be leveraged to demonstrate the candidate's commitment to transparency and accountability, enhancing their credibility with the electorate.
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File final reports
Filing final reports is a crucial step in ending your political campaign. Here are some detailed instructions to guide you through the process:
Determine Reportable Activity and Leftover Funds:
Firstly, assess whether there will be any further reportable activity in your campaign. If there are no anticipated additional actions connected to your candidacy, you can proceed to designate the report covering the last reporting period as your final report. Simultaneously, it's important to identify if there are any unexpended contributions, such as leftover funds or assets. Properly determining your financial status is essential for concluding your campaign's reporting obligations.
File the Final Report:
The filing of the final report signifies the official end of your candidacy. This report relieves you of the duty to submit any further reports required of a candidate and terminates your campaign treasurer appointment. Ensure that you meet all filing deadlines and submit the final report to the relevant authorities, such as the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) or the local filing authority, depending on your location.
Dispose of Unexpended Contributions:
In the case of leftover funds or assets, it is necessary to file annual reports of unexpended contributions. These reports should be submitted within six years of filing your final report, following the guidelines outlined in the Campaign Finance Guide for Candidates and Officeholders. Properly disposing of unexpended contributions in a specified and compliant manner is crucial to concluding your financial obligations.
Record-Keeping and Inventory:
Even after your campaign has ended, it's important to maintain good record-keeping practices. Keep an inventory of all campaign assets and ensure that this information is centralized and easily accessible. This includes questionnaires, interviews, articles, and any other relevant documents. Additionally, consider using cloud storage or a portable hard drive to securely store your campaign data.
Formulate a Policy for Campaign Assets:
Decide on a clear policy regarding the ownership and distribution of campaign assets. Determine who will retain control of these assets, whether it's the candidate, manager, fundraiser, or the party. Consult with a lawyer to ensure that you are complying with any legal requirements and to address any specific questions or concerns you may have.
Filing final reports is a comprehensive process that requires attention to detail and a thorough understanding of campaign finance regulations. By following these steps, you can ensure a smooth conclusion to your political campaign and maintain compliance with reporting obligations.
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Document and protect campaign assets
Once a political campaign is over, it's important to secure and protect your campaign assets. Here are some steps to help you with this process:
Firstly, it is crucial to have a comprehensive inventory of your campaign assets. This includes physical items, such as office equipment, supplies, and promotional materials, as well as digital assets like websites, social media accounts, and email lists. Create a detailed list of these assets and keep all the information in one central place for easy reference.
Secondly, develop a policy on who gets to keep these assets. This could be the candidate, campaign manager, fundraiser, or the political party. Consult with a lawyer to ensure you are following any relevant rules and regulations. Decide if and how this information can be shared, and what, if anything, you will receive in exchange for giving away your assets.
Thirdly, protect your digital assets by storing them in cloud-based storage and on a large portable hard drive. Ensure that all files are password-protected and encrypted for added security. This is particularly important for sensitive information, such as donor and supporter data.
Additionally, it is essential to keep a record of your campaign activities, including questionnaires, interviews, and articles. Get someone to highlight any criticisms or controversial statements made during the campaign, as these may become issues in future campaigns. This record-keeping will help you and your team improve and adjust your strategies for the future.
Finally, don't forget to thank the people who supported you during the campaign. Call them, send handwritten notes, and maintain those relationships. This will leave a positive impression and could be beneficial for any future endeavours.
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Spend time with family
Spending time with family is often a euphemism used by politicians to mask a variety of underlying issues. While it might sometimes be a genuine reason, it more often signals deeper, less straightforward reasons for ending a political campaign or resigning. One of the most common interpretations of this phrase is that it is used to mitigate the damage to a politician's reputation in anticipation of or involvement in a scandal.
However, political life can be relentless, and the constant pressure, long hours, and frequent travel can take a toll on politicians' mental and physical health. Therefore, spending time with family can be a noble sacrifice and a genuine reason to end a campaign or step down from a position. It allows politicians to step back and recuperate without admitting to burnout, which might be perceived as a weakness. This helps them maintain a positive image and leaves the door open for future endeavors, whether within or outside politics.
If you are ending your political campaign, it is essential to be organized and tie up loose ends. Thank your supporters and campaign staff, pay any outstanding bills, and keep a record of important campaign assets and inventory. You should also check the filing deadlines and timely file all required campaign finance reports.
Remember, ending a political campaign or stepping down from a position can be an opportunity for career transition or a chance to explore more lucrative or fulfilling roles in the private sector, academia, or international organizations.
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Frequently asked questions
Ending a political campaign involves several steps, including:
- Filing all required campaign finance reports and addressing any unexpended contributions.
- Keeping records and creating an inventory of campaign assets, questionnaires, interviews, and articles.
- Thanking supporters, paying bills, and maintaining relationships built during the campaign.
To file the final report, you must determine if there is any remaining reportable activity in your campaign. If there is none, designate the report covering the last reporting period as your final report. This relieves you from filing additional candidate reports and terminates your campaign treasurer appointment. Remember to address any unexpended contributions by filing annual reports and disposing of them within six years of filing your final report.
It is important to secure and document your campaign assets. Decide on a policy for who gets to keep the assets, such as the candidate, manager, or fundraiser. Cloud storage and portable hard drives are useful and affordable options for protecting your campaign assets. Ensure that all information is kept in a central place for easy reference in the future.
