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Amanda Foster — Reviewed writer, former magazine editor

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How to Handle Run for Congress Step by Step

When run for congress leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.

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Define the issues.

You want to be the one defining the issues at all times. Constantly responding to your opponents is a quick way to blend into the background and seem smaller in stature than your opponents. Constantly responding to your opponents is a quick way to blend into the background and seem smaller in stature than your opponents. You want to be the one defining the issues at all times. Constantly responding to your opponents is a quick way to blend into the background and seem smaller in stature than your opponents. You want to be the one defining the issues at all times.

You want to be the one defining the issues at all times. Constantly responding to your opponents is a quick way to blend into the background and seem smaller in stature than your opponents.
Constantly responding to your opponents is a quick way to blend into the background and seem smaller in stature than your opponents.
You want to be the one defining the issues at all times.
Constantly responding to your opponents is a quick way to blend into the background and seem smaller in stature than your opponents.
You want to be the one defining the issues at all times.

Attack without being negative.

Very few people can aggressively attack their opponents without becoming unlikeable in the process. That's not to say it can't happen. Sometimes a person's behavior is so odious that righteous anger is the only response, but that's rare. It's much safer to attack your opponent through implication than it is to openly attack. You want to highlight your good qualities while leaving your opponent's bad qualities understood.

Very few people can aggressively attack their opponents without becoming unlikeable in the process.
That's not to say it can't happen.
Sometimes a person's behavior is so odious that righteous anger is the only response, but that's rare.
It's much safer to attack your opponent through implication than it is to openly attack.
You want to highlight your good qualities while leaving your opponent's bad qualities understood.

Reach out to media.

Relative to advertising, media have more influence on campaigns than ever before. The best kind of exposure you can get is positive coverage in the news (earned media). It pays to forge relationships with reporters in your area early and cultivate them often, because it increases the likelihood of positive earned media. Give them early access to stories, the occasional leak and several rounds of free drinks.

Relative to advertising, media have more influence on campaigns than ever before.
The best kind of exposure you can get is positive coverage in the news (earned media).
It pays to forge relationships with reporters in your area early and cultivate them often, because it increases the likelihood of positive earned media.
Give them early access to stories, the occasional leak and several rounds of free drinks.
Relative to advertising, media have more influence on campaigns than ever before.

Cultivate a volunteer base.

Having an army of volunteers seems more typical of a presidential campaign than a congressional campaign, because congressional races have less money and are usually less competitive. However, a congressional campaign investing in the type of field operation that can recruit a lot of volunteers is a powerful statement in and of itself. Having an army of volunteers seems more typical of a presidential campaign than a congressional campaign, because congressional races have less money and are usually less competitive. However, a congressional campaign investing in the type of field operation that can recruit a lot of volunteers is a powerful statement in and of itself.

Having an army of volunteers seems more typical of a presidential campaign than a congressional campaign, because congressional races have less money and are usually less competitive.
However, a congressional campaign investing in the type of field operation that can recruit a lot of volunteers is a powerful statement in and of itself.
Having an army of volunteers seems more typical of a presidential campaign than a congressional campaign, because congressional races have less money and are usually less competitive.
However, a congressional campaign investing in the type of field operation that can recruit a lot of volunteers is a powerful statement in and of itself.
Having an army of volunteers seems more typical of a presidential campaign than a congressional campaign, because congressional races have less money and are usually less competitive.

Pay for media.

Once you've done all you can to frame the narrative, develop your field operations and create good relationships with the media, you should turn your attention to paid media. Paid media includes television and radio ads, yard signs, mailers, billboards, and any other type of political advertisement. Once you've done all you can to frame the narrative, develop your field operations and create good relationships with the media, you should turn your attention to paid media. Paid media includes television and radio ads, yard signs, mailers, billboards, and any other type of political advertisement.

Once you've done all you can to frame the narrative, develop your field operations and create good relationships with the media, you should turn your attention to paid media.
Paid media includes television and radio ads, yard signs, mailers, billboards, and any other type of political advertisement.
Once you've done all you can to frame the narrative, develop your field operations and create good relationships with the media, you should turn your attention to paid media.
Paid media includes television and radio ads, yard signs, mailers, billboards, and any other type of political advertisement.
Once you've done all you can to frame the narrative, develop your field operations and create good relationships with the media, you should turn your attention to paid media.

Get out the votes.

When Election Day comes, it's time to get your voters to the polls. The volunteers you've recruited during the campaign season should knock on as many doors and make as many last minute phone calls reminding people to vote as they can. When Election Day comes, it's time to get your voters to the polls. The volunteers you've recruited during the campaign season should knock on as many doors and make as many last minute phone calls reminding people to vote as they can.

When Election Day comes, it's time to get your voters to the polls.
The volunteers you've recruited during the campaign season should knock on as many doors and make as many last minute phone calls reminding people to vote as they can.
When Election Day comes, it's time to get your voters to the polls.
The volunteers you've recruited during the campaign season should knock on as many doors and make as many last minute phone calls reminding people to vote as they can.
When Election Day comes, it's time to get your voters to the polls.

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