A political campaign is an organized effort to elect a candidate or pass ballot initiatives. Campaigns can be local, state, national, or international in scope. They are usually staffed by paid and volunteer staffers. The goal of most campaigns is to win a majority (or, in some cases, a plurality) of votes in an election.
Campaigns are highly demanding, both personally and professionally. Candidates and their staffers work long hours, often in unpaid positions and outside of regular business hours. The workload is intensive and requires a wide range of jack-of-all-trades skills, from fundraising to policy development to managing volunteers. Many people find that working on a campaign is not the right fit for them and are unable to endure the demanding work environment.
Most campaigns are partisan, and it can be difficult to change parties after beginning a career in politics. For that reason, prospective campaign workers should consider the level of partisanship in a particular race and the repercussions of switching parties later on.
Competitive elections attract the attention of political party ecosystems, which prioritize these races in their efforts to protect incumbent politicians and win new seats for their caucuses or their broader partisan coalitions. These highly competitive races tend to have the highest levels of funding and most professional campaign operations. They are also a great place for young professionals to gain valuable experience and build a meaningful career in politics and politics-adjacent fields. In addition to providing a strong base of future employees for government offices, these campaigns provide a unique opportunity to gain valuable leadership skills.
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