A political campaign is an organized effort to elect a candidate or pass ballot initiatives. Campaigns depend on paid staffers to identify, persuade, and organize supporters; manage project and financial resources; and oversee day-to-day operations. The goal is to secure a majority–or at least a plurality–of votes in order to win an election.
Most candidates run for public office, and campaigns for US House and Senate seats, state legislatures, governorships, and other local offices tend to be the most competitive. In these races, the victory often determines party control of the relevant branch of government and influences highly salient policy debates. As such, these contests often require the most extensive fundraising and professional campaign operations, since they have the greatest impact on the balance of power in a given area and on overall policy outcomes.
In addition to these general functions, many campaigns employ specialized operatives to handle specific issues. For example, a research director may devise and implement a plan for gathering and analyzing data to help the campaign make decisions on messaging, strategy, and budgeting. A communications director may be responsible for producing and distributing media statements and for developing and managing social media accounts.
Whether or not a person chooses to work on a political campaign is largely a matter of personal preference and career goals. Those interested in working on a campaign should first consider what kind of roles they want to pursue and with which political party, if any, they want to affiliate (because switching parties can have reputational and career costs that increase over time). To assist with this process, HLS has developed a tool that helps individuals assess a range of factors related to their career objectives and the pros and cons of working on a political campaign.
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