Help running for Congress (CA-53)

[z9000]

Hey Guys,

wondering if anybody knew the process of ACTUALLY running for office?

 

[NJP411]

I've had a similar idea, and similar questions, about a potential run in Texas in 2016 or 2018. I've got the same age range as you too.

 

[mwkaufman]

The most important thing is you can't just become a Congressman. Go do something with your life, whether it be in government or not. You need a personal story to tell.

 

[z9000]

Good advice.

 

[VoluntaryAmerican]

Here is a good book for anyone wanting to run as a liberty candidate and RPF member Gunny is one of the authors:

http://www.amazon.com/How-Office-Liberty-Platform-Liberty-Candidates-org/dp/146378144X

Authors of the book:
Alexander Snitker, Fl Senatorial Candidate
Cameron DeJong, NH State Representative*
Chelene Nightingale, CA Candidates for Governor
Chuck Donovan, GA Senatorial Candidate
Danny Panzella, NY State Assembly
Doug Walters, PA State Representative Candidate
Erin Lale, NV State Assembly Candidate
Fernando Powers, NJ Congressional Candidate
Glen Bradley, NC State Representative*
Jenn Coffey, NH State Representative*
Julie Fox, IL State Comptroller Candidate
Kelly Nguyen, GA Congressional Candidate
Kurtis Liston, OH State Representative Candidate
Mary Ruth Edwards, WA Congressional Candidate
Richard Forsythe, TX State Representative Candidate
RJ Harris, OK Congressional Candidate and Current Candidate for President 2012
Shane Coley, GA State Senate Candidate
Steve Susman, TX Congressional Candidate
Terri McCormick, WI Congressional Candidate.

 

[willwash]

I have all of the American dream type stories, family runs a small business, lost our home in the recession, I'm a college student, involved in the community, etc.

No disrespect, but a college student doesn't get a major party nod, much less get elected to congress. Throw your weight behind someone a little older and more accomplished, run third party, or run for local office. Just my .02, and I really do wish your political career the best.

 

[MichaelDavis]

No disrespect, but a college student doesn't get a major party nod, much less get elected to congress. Throw your weight behind someone a little older and more accomplished, run third party, or run for local office. Just my .02, and I really do wish your political career the best.

The election is three years away, so I doubt he will still be in college by then. I have to agree that Mr. Brown should run for state assembly first. It will require less money and he has a better shot of winning the GOP nomination. Preferably, he should run in a safe Republican open seat even if you he has to move.

 

[jurgs01]

I honestly would start by running for a State seat or even local seat and show people your principled voting record (or build one up). This also gives you a chance to work in the private sector while doing part time politics and getting familiar with what you are facing.

 

[z9000]

Thanks for the input.

 

[Rocco]

My advice to you is to become involved in your county GOP, volunteer to do the leg work necessary, build connections with party activists and use them to run for something like assembly first.

 

[Rocco]

Zboro, in your case perhaps there is a high profile city/town job that you could win?

 

[MichaelDavis]

State assembly is a good idea, except my district is blue, and controlled by the speaker of the assembly.

Move. There is no point in running if you cannot win. If you want to run for Assembly, try Santee CA where Rep Brian Jones will be term-limited in 2016. If you don't want to move, run for city council or something.

 

[CaptLouAlbano]

Move. There is no point in running if you cannot win. If you want to run for Assembly, try Santee CA where Rep Brian Jones will be term-limited in 2016. If you don't want to move, run for city council or something.

Have to agree with this. You are in a CD where the Dem has a huge advantage. US House is a big place to start a political career, and at your young age your chances of success (even in a red CD) are slim. Start smaller and build from there. Best of luck to you.

 

[z9000]

Thanks for the perspective!

 

[AJ Antimony]

Hi guys,

I'm looking to run for Congress in California's 53rd district (as a Republican) in 2016 (presumably, current Democratic incumbent Susan Davis will be reelected) on a libertarian-populist platform. Dem registration outnumbers Republicans, but I'm hoping with crossover appeal (civil liberties, medical marijuana) I can take a chunk of disaffected Democrats. It will be an uphill battle, but I would love to break 40%.

Last year, Nich Popaditch, who is very neoconservative got about 37% of the vote. I know my platform (which is "west coast Republican" on social issues and libertarian populist otherwise) could do much better.

So, I was wondering how I go about becoming a candidate. I know there are forms I must fill out with the FEC, but beyond that, how do you recommend getting on the ballot and fundraising?

I'll be 26 at the time of the campaign, so I'll be young, but the incumbent with be 72, so I'm hoping "Fresh perspective, bold ideas" helps me out.

Step 1: Pinch yourself, then take 5 minutes to actually think through your idea.

When you do that, you should come up with hundreds of questions like these:

For 2012, Davis spent $950,000. Money doesn't buy elections, but for people to care about your candidacy, you'll have to raise something close to that, say, $700,000. Do you have any actual idea on how to go from $0 to $700,000 in 3.5 years? Hint: Friends and family won't be anywhere near enough.

You're running to get 41% of the vote? So you're running with the goal of losing? Why bother?
Maybe the idea of losing an election doesn't bother you, but it WILL bother potential donors, volunteers, and staff. You could have the best strategic plan and best fundraising plan in the nation, but plenty of people will still never donate time or money to you if they think you have no chance in this strong-D district. And you saying "but I do have a chance!" won't change their minds.

You have some wishful thinking there that by simply running as a lib-Rep, a huge chunk of Dem voters will magically abandon their incumbent and their decades of party loyalty. Has Davis actually voted against "civil liberties, medical marijuana"? Write down a list of all the votes she's made that you think you could capitalize on. Now throw that list away because it will be pretty meaningless in 2016.

Even if you go ahead and run in 2016, why should Republicans support you? Have you met with local GOP leaders? Have you built strong relationships? Have you met any big donors? If local Republicans want to seriously challenge Davis, why not nominate a seasoned, prepared, strong-fundraising state legislator? Why are you better? Because you can market yourself as a libertarian Republican? So what? The GOP can market their preferred candidate that way if they really wanted to.

Fresh and bold is a great idea. Libertarian-populist is a great idea. But if you don't know anybody at all, and if you don't have any candidate skills (such as debating, working a room, convincing locals to write $5,200 checks to you, etc) then you're just wasting your time. You should really run for something much smaller first. Then you will gain skills, and you can work your way up. Are you a PC? Go get yourself elected as a PC. Then a small government office, if possible. Then, if during this time, you met the right people, met enough people, and have enough supporters and potential donors and voters on your side, JUST MAYBE you can ATTEMPT to win as a Republican in a super-Dem state assembly seat. But if you don't have the people lined up first, it'll never happen.

 

[AJ Antimony]

I don't expect to win, but it would be a nice way to boost my profile and see how a liberty platform fares in a lean-blue district.

No it wouldn't. We know how libertarian Republicans perform in super-D districts. Just like neocons and just like moderates, they lose badly. They lose badly not because of their message or where they stand on the issues. They lose because they have no supporters.

Also, no, getting crushed and wasting people's time is not a way to "boost your profile." If anything, you'll gain a reputation as a loser. And not only that, you'll gain a reputation as a loser stupid enough to run in a race where he has little to no chance of winning. The only way to actually "boost your profile" is to actually win the election. How do you win?

Say your CD has 650,000 people. Let's say that means 325,000 registered voters. If you want to win, then you need to look 163,000 registered voters in the eye and earn their vote. If you're serious about running, then you should start now. You won't have enough voters lined up by 2016, but maybe you will by 2020 or 2030. Then you should run, because you'll win.

Oh, and at some point you'll have to ask these people for donations. Oh and also, it'll probably cost money to actually go out and meet these people. Oh and also, earning their votes is great, but it'll be meaningless if you can't afford a GOTV program to actually get them to the polls. Oh and also, after all of this, your eventual opponent will still probably be more popular than you.

Oh, and regarding that 163,000 number, some of those people will die before 2030, so you really can't stop meeting new voters. And also, by 2020 or 2030, the population in your CD will have grown, so you'll most likely need to meet even more voters than originally planned.

 

[z9000]

Thanks for the feedback, it is certainly constructive.

 

[AJ Antimony]

Thanks for the feedback, it is certainly constructive. I am quite involved with the San Diego GOP and know Carl DeMaio (currently running for CA52) and many of the consultants and local donors, they'll be a good point of contact for whatever I end up running for.

Yes they will be, but we know that even if 100% of them back you completely, it still likely won't be enough to win in a safe-D district. And again, that's assuming they even support you. You could know every Republican in the state of California, but it'll be all for nothing if they don't think you're going to be competitive.

 

[compromise]

I think you should keep up your involvement with your local GOP and try to rise up through their ranks.

Congress may seem alluring, but it's worth getting some real jobs first. They might also help you self-fund any political campaign you want in the future.

 

[MichaelDavis]

This is all good advice, I really appreciate it. There are generally a few people who enter the Republican primary for CA53, none of them get much backing from the RNC or NRSC. I am involved locally with my GOP and I know personally a couple other GOP candidates who already have the nod. I don't expect to win, but it would be a nice way to boost my profile and see how a liberty platform fares in a lean-blue district.

How a liberty platform fares in a lean-blue district: http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=768690

Oh, and this district is MORE Republican than yours. Libertarian-Republicans do not perform any better than Neo-Cons. Justin Amash did not outperform Romney at all. Their vote-totals were practically identical: http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=752110