Should I Run for Office?

Running for office is a major decision. There are many considerations—like why you want to run, which office you should run for, who your opponent(s) will be, how you'll keep up with your other obligations while you run, and how you'll make the case to voters that you should represent them.

This guide is designed to help you think through some of the most important considerations while you decide what's right for you.

Why Do I Want to Run for Office?

Begin by asking yourself why you want to do this. There is no right or wrong answer to the question, but having a real, authentic purpose is critical. It'll get you through the long days, and it will form the basis of every connection you make on the campaign trail.

Ask yourself questions like:

  • Are you frustrated with your current representation and feel you could do a better job?
  • Is there a specific issue or set of issues that you're particularly passionate about?
  • Have you personally experienced failures of government that you don't want others to experience?
  • Are you running for something, not just against someone else?

People want to know what's at stake for you. Candidates who lead with personal stories and real stakes, rather than generic ambition, connect more deeply with voters.

Am I Personally Prepared to Run?

Running for office can place significant demands on you and your loved ones, and you should go into the experience clear-eyed. Not only will it take a lot of your time, but you will be subjected to a level of scrutiny and criticism you may be unfamiliar with. There will be days where you love that you decided to run, and days where you hate it.

Ask yourself questions like:

  • How much time am I willing to commit to the campaign? Am I prepared to pause other commitments?
  • Am I comfortable being in the spotlight, knowing that sometimes I'll be getting criticized?
  • Are my loved ones comfortable with this level of attention?
  • Who will I lean on for support on the toughest days? How will I recharge when I'm exhausted?

Every candidate gets to decide which sacrifices they're willing to make and which ones they aren't. You don't need to say yes to everything. The important thing is being honest with yourself about what you're up for and what you're not.

What Should I Know About the Office Before I Run?

If you're not sure which office you want to run for yet, begin by researching who your current representatives are at the local, state, and federal levels. You can look them up on the Who Represents Me website.

If you need help figuring out which office is right for you, research these questions:

  • What does each office do? Policy-making, budgeting, administration, community services, etc.?
  • What powers does this office have?
  • What does an average day look like for someone who holds this office?
  • Is the office part-time or full-time? Can I afford to take the salary it offers?

Once you've figured out what office is right for you, you should research more about the office and the district. Ask these questions:

  • Who is the current representative? How have they performed in past elections?
  • What are the demographics of the district?
  • What issues, both local and national, matter most to people in the district?
  • Are there local activists, organizations, or elected officials you should connect with before you make a decision?

You don't need to know everything to make a decision. You just need to have an idea of who your opponent is, who the voters are, and what the office is responsible for. There will be plenty of time to learn more once you get started!

Would I Be a Good Elected Official?

When considering whether you should run for office, you might find yourself asking if you'd be good at the job if you win. This is a good question to ask, but keep in mind that there is no single type of person that is best positioned to hold elected office. Too many people feel like they shouldn't run for office because they don't have a certain resume or set of experiences. But consider the following:

  • About 94% of House members and all but one member of the Senate have at least a bachelor's degree. About 38% of American adults hold a bachelor's degree.
  • Women make up 23% of the House and 25% of the Senate, while comprising 50% of the U.S. population.
  • Approximately 75% of Congress members are white, compared to 59% of the U.S. population.
  • The average age is 58 in the House and 64 in the Senate. The average age of the U.S. population is 39.
  • The median net worth of U.S. households is about $192,000, compared to $511,000 for Congressmembers.

These differences show that elected officials often don’t reflect the diversity and experiences of the people they serve. If you’re thinking about running, don’t let these typical profiles hold you back—your perspective and voice are needed. It is usually the people who question whether they'd be good at the job who should run for office. If you're still not sure, though, ask yourself these questions:

  • Am I running to serve, or just to be seen?
  • Can I handle conflict and high-pressure situations?
  • Am I comfortable making decisions that affect other people's lives?
  • Do I like working with other people and engaging with those who disagree with me?
  • Do I have a clear sense of my long-term goals in this office (not just getting re-elected)?

There is no such thing as the perfect candidate. We highly encourage people who are not traditional candidates to run. We need more regular, hardworking people to run for office—people who understand what's at stake when our interests aren't properly represented.

How Should I Prepare to Run?

Once you've decided to run, but before you've launched your campaign, there are a number of things you should do to prepare yourself for a strong campaign.

Personal Preparation

  • Talk to your close friends and family. Make sure they understand and support your decision.
  • Assess your capacity. Decide if you will need to shift other areas of your life, like work hours, childcare, class schedule, etc.
  • Get clear on your why. You should be able to explain why you're running in one sentence.

Research

  • Do a deeper dive on the district. Know the demographics of each region, how the district has turned out and voted in the past, what issues are most important, etc.
  • Make a list of people who can help. Research whether there are organizations, elected officials, or other people who could be helpful to you when you run.
  • Figure out how and when to file. Depending on which office you're running for, there are different filing requirements.
  • Build a list of donors. You should make a list of people you personally know who will be the first donors to your campaign.

People

  • Assemble a kitchen cabinet. This is a small group of people who's advice you trust. It can change over time as you meet new people, but you should have a group you rely on right out of the gate.
  • Recruit a few volunteers. Having volunteers that can help you with research, making calls, going to events with you, etc. is invaluable. Your first volunteers will likely be people you know personally.
  • Meet with people who can be helpful. Look at the list of organizations, elected officials, and donors that you've developed, and go talk to the most influential among them to try to line up support before launch. Even if some aren't ready to make an endorsement right away, meeting with people before announcement shows that you respect their position in the community.

Finally, there are tons of logistics you'll need to work through before you launch. This includes creating logos and a website, picking a launch date, filing paperwork, opening a bank account, and more. All of this will be covered in much greater detail in a forthcoming Blue Texas guide. For now, if you want more help thinking through these things, reach out to us at info@texasmajoritypac.com.