Thinking about running? Here’s where to start.
Running for office might seem intimidating. (Paperwork, canvassing, fundraising – oh my!) But it’s all possible if you take it step by step. And if you need support along the way, we can help.
1. Decide when to run.
There’s no “perfect time” to run for office. Most successful candidates have told us that once you start thinking about it, there will be a time that just feels right when you can jump into a campaign on your own terms. You have to balance the decision with what’s going on in your personal and professional life. Women have great intuition; listen to it.
2. When not to run.
So while there’s no perfect time to run, there are some generally un-perfect times. On the personal side of things, if there’s so much going on that you can’t give a majority of your time and energy to a campaign, it’s probably not the right time. And on the political side, consider holding off if you’d be running against a popular incumbent from your same party. Jump in when an office holder is terming out, for example. That’s not a rule, just a guideline.
3. Do your research.
Read as much as you can about the office you’d like to run for. Talk to people who have or are currently holding that office. Attend or watch the forums, council meetings and events that office is responsible for, and volunteer to get involved in any way you can. Talk to your party about the realistic needs of running for that office so that you can get a sense for what else you can be doing to prepare.
4. Talk to your people.
Your spouse, your family, even your boss: these are the people who will be on the front lines of this journey with you even if they aren’t actively involved in the campaign. They’ll get less of your time than they’re used to, they’ll likely need to step in to help you cover things in your personal or professional life and, hardest of all, they’ll watch while you’re tested to the limit with personal attacks from your opponents. Talk openly and honestly about what’s ahead and accept whatever level of involvement in your campaign that they are comfortable with.
5. Assemble your team.
Whether you’re planning to hire paid staff or simply elicit the best volunteer help in the world, you’ll need to build a team that covers the essentials: Communication, Fundraising & Finance and Field Operations. Ask as many people who have run for office who they’ve worked with and who they recommend. Your party can also connect you with people who fit your needs.
6. Take care of the technicals.
Each office (listed below) has different deadlines and requirements for the paperwork you need to file as a candidate so follow that position’s link to see what’s required and when. You’ll also need a separate bank account for ALL campaign donations and expenses. This is VERY important so don’t skip this step. Download our Candidate 101 Starter Checklist.
7. Make connections.
Even before you have “officially” declared your candidacy, you can (and should!) be out there meeting your constituents. Attend neighborhood coffees and association meetings. Introduce yourself and listen to the issues that matter to your neighbors; these are the platform items you’ll need to address in your campaign.
8. Define your platform.
Your message is the most important aspect of your candidacy. What are the three (four, tops!) main issues you’re passionate about? Create a clear, concise set of talking points that you believe in and won’t mind repeating until you’re blue in the face. The approximately 1000th time you’ve stated your case will be the first time someone hears it.
9. Run, girl, run!
Once you have your foundation in place, it’s time to announce that you’re running for office. You’ll, of course, announce the big news to your personal circle, but you’ll also want to notify the media. Host a campaign kick-off party where you can test your stump speech in a safe space with people who want the best for you.
“I’m a connector. I love meeting people and finding ways to solve problems. Public office is a good way to do that.”
Need a little (or a lot!) of guidance? We can help!
We offer a complete range of campaign services from free trainings and Q&A sessions to full-service campaign planning, filings and more.
What you’ll need to win.
A passion for the office.
First and foremost, you need to LOVE your community and the issues at hand for the position you are running for. If you’re only running for an office as a stepping stone to something else, you might not be a good fit for that role. Find a position that fits your passion and go all-in. Running for (and holding) office is a labor of love that you can’t fake so dig deep to be sure the reasons you’re running are true to who you are.
A love of being busy.
Running for (and holding) office takes a lot of time and energy. There are the technical time commitments like meetings, assemblies, office hours, etc., but there also countless other events and activities you’ll need to attend to court donors and be there for your constituents. Breakfasts, events for networking, committee meetings, attending functions with donors — it all adds up to not much down time. Perfect for those of us who go, go, go.
A “connector” mindset.
The number one thing you’ll have to do as a candidate (and as a politician) is talk to people. From knocking on doors (seriously, ALL the doors) and speaking at events to asking for donations and negotiating with other officeholders, you’re going to be “out” there. If the introvert in you is nervous, that’s ok! You can get over all of your fears. But it’ll take work and you have to be ready for it.
“There’s so much white noise in a campaign. If it’s not dollars or doors, you’re wasting your time.”
- Former State Legislator Danielle Conrad on avoiding distractions and fighting on social media
Find an office to run for.
State Offices
Nebraska Attorney General
Nebraska Secretary of State
Nebraska Secretary of State
Public Service Commission
Nebraska Governor
Nebraska State Auditor of Public Accounts
State Supreme Court
Nebraska Lieutenant Governor
Nebraska State Treasurer
Workers Compensation Court
U.S. House of Representatives
There are two chambers in Congress: the House of Representatives and the Senate. As the legislative branch of our government, the number one job of Congress is to make laws. The House and the Senate share equal responsibility for doing that. The House has 435 members, with the number of members representing each state depending on the state’s population (Nebraska has three). Members of the House serve two-year terms. View district map
Nebraska 1st U.S. Congressional District
Nebraska 2nd U.S. Congressional District
Nebraska 3rd U.S. Congressional District
U.S. Senate
Together with the House of Representatives, the Senate makes up Congress, the legislative (or lawmaking) branch of our government. There are 100 Senators (two from each state) that each serve rotating six-year terms. The Senior Senator is simply the one who’s been in office longer.
U.S. Senator (NE - Jr.)
U.S. Senator (NE - Jr.)
Nebraska State Senate
Nebraska, unlike other state legislatures, has a unicameral and nonpartisan legislature. The Nebraska legislature has 49 members, with all members serving four-year terms, with a two-consecutive-term limit. The primary responsibilities of this position include: creating and ratifying state laws and regulations, serving on various committees and making taxation decisions. View district map Select your district
Douglas County Offices
Most counties in Nebraska have the offices similar to the following list for Douglas County, though every county is different depending on its size. For offices outside of Douglas County, search for election information on your county’s website.
Assessor/Register of Deeds
Clerk of the District Court
County Public Defender
Learning Community Coordinating Council
County Court
Educational Services Unit
County Clerk
County Commissioner
County Sheriff
Papio-Missouri River NRD
County District Court
County Attorney
County Engineer
County Treasurer
Court of Appeals
Separate Juvenile Court
City Offices
Most cities in Nebraska have the offices similar to the following list for Omaha, though every city is different depending on its size. For offices outside of Omaha, search for election information on your city’s website.
Omaha City Council
Board of Regents University of Nebraska
Omaha Public Power District
Metropolitan Utilities District
School Districts
School boards establish a vision for the community's schools that reflects a consensus of the board, district staff and—most importantly—the community. The school board has a wide variety of additional responsibilities, like balancing the annual budget and preparing financial reports, creating the school calendar, negotiating contracts with employees, approving curriculum materials and opening or closing schools.
Douglas County district offices are available in Bennington, Douglas County, Elkhorn, Millard, Omaha, Ralston and Westside. Select your district
For offices outside of Douglas County, search for election information on your county’s website.
Where to go for more help.
Each of the following organizations offers tons of resources to help you run for office.
