Political campaigns are the efforts of individuals and organizations seeking to elect a candidate for public office. These efforts can take place at all levels of government, including the 435 members of Congress; 100 senators; tens of thousands of state legislators; and local judges, city councilmembers, and mayors. Campaigns may be highly competitive, as they are often fought by candidates with slim margins of victory and can have significant impact on the balance of power and policy outcomes.
Successful campaigns typically have a strong emphasis on voter contact and engagement programs. They must also develop messages that resonate with voters, which requires a great deal of collaboration and flexibility. Whether a politician is trying to highlight a problem, show they are a champion of change, or appeal to voters’ self-interest, it is critical that their messaging be consistent and well executed across all campaign tools and channels.
The jack-of-all-trades nature of most campaign roles means that people with limited experience can still make a meaningful contribution to the success of a political campaign. The broad professional skills that can be acquired through working on a campaign are also highly relevant to more substantive policy positions in government, think tanks, or private firms, where subject matter expertise is required.
Depending on their experience and career stage, it’s common for prospective staffers to work on multiple campaigns. For example, a young college graduate with substantial previous campaign experience can jump from a junior role on a bottom-ballot local or state legislative race to a mid-level or senior position on a top-tier national Senate or House race within a few election cycles (6 years). The ability to move quickly up the ranks is often one of the biggest benefits that a job in politics can offer.