Welcome back, Saturday Campaign D.I.Y.ers! For those who tune in, welcome to the Nuts & Bolts of a Democratic campaign. Each week we discuss issues that help drive successful campaigns. If you’ve missed prior diaries, please visit our group or follow Nuts & Bolts Guide.
This year we are following activists as they work to build up their networks and promote their cause. The most significant way that our outside groups can influence the discussion is through the effective recruiting of candidates, from top to bottom.
Candidate recruitment into races like local water boards, school boards, city councils, mayoral races, county offices and state houses can be a lot of work. Activists often look to help find good candidates they think can succeed, as well as members within their organization they can help get on the ballot and move toward a win. But, how, exactly, can you recruit candidates successfully?
The photo attached to this diary is an example of effective recruiting. In 2016, for the first time in decades, Kansas Democrats managed to recruit candidates into all 40 Senate races. This effort caused Republicans to spend in a lot more races, and divided their resources. While Kansas Senate Democratic members didn’t win more races, the expense to save the state Senate was helpful toward our state House members, who found that competitive races above and below them helped enable 14 pickups. Not bad!
Organizations who are looking to make an impact in races also have to remember that when you are recruiting candidates, part of your goal should be about building a candidate base that is supportive of one another, and one that creates a type of candidate pyramid built to succeed.
The more localized candidates you have, the better they can help support state candidates above them. The more state candidates, the better support for your district candidates. This is because the candidate at the lowest level is likely to walk more districts and direct contact more voters. While a candidate at the very top of the ticket is likely to spend more in ad campaigns a down ballot candidate cannot afford. Having both together can make a difference in how your campaigns succeed.
So, as you recruit, don’t just focus on one set of races, focus on building up a candidate network, top to bottom.
from Daily Kos http://ift.tt/2wptDQf
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