Campaign Writing – Political Campaign Tips and Strategies

One Campaign Messaging Style Does Not Fit Every Office

Online Candidate — Sun, 24 May 2026 17:02:05 +0000

Many first-time candidates assume campaign messaging works the same for every race. It does not.

What works for a sheriff candidate may feel completely out of place in a school board race. Judicial campaigns often require a more restrained tone … Read the rest

Don’t Let Weak Copy Undercut Your Political Campaign

Online Candidate — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 18:42:45 +0000

When you’re running for local office, it’s easy to think that words are the easy part. After all, you already know your values, your community, and what you stand for. Why not just write it yourself?

But here’s the truth: … Read the rest

Sample High-Dollar Donor Fundraising Letter (With Tips to Personalize Your Ask)

Online Candidate — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 00:53:18 +0000

Some donors can make a big difference with a single contribution, and when you’re running a political campaign, you need to know how to ask.

A high-dollar donor fundraising letter is different from a general appeal. It’s more personal, more … Read the rest

Sample Campaign Fundraising Kickoff Letter (With Tips to Make It Your Own)

Online Candidate — Sun, 25 May 2025 02:29:55 +0000

Your campaign is underway—and now it’s time to ask for support.

One of the first steps most political candidates take is sending a fundraising kickoff letter. This message introduces your candidacy, shares why you’re running, and asks supporters to … Read the rest

Mastering Political Storytelling: Your Secret Campaign Weapon

Shane Daley — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 21:09:54 +0000

If this is your first campaign for political office, there’s one tool you absolutely need to use: political storytelling.

A smart politician knows that most voters remember stories and narratives, not facts and figures. Connections are not made by … Read the rest

Write an Optimized Political Press Release

Online Candidate — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:39:59 +0000

A well-written online press release is an essential publicity tool for political campaigning. Think of a press release as a concise, news-driven narrative about your campaign, specifically crafted for distribution to media contacts. In this article, we cover when to … Read the rest

From Bland to Bold: Elevate Your Campaign Writing with Personal Style

Online Candidate — Mon, 29 May 2023 22:19:39 +0000

When it comes to political campaigning, communication is like the secret sauce—it’s the key ingredient that makes everything else work. One aspect of communication is having a ‘voice’, which is a unique style, tone, and personality. Candidates who can … Read the rest

Speak Like a Voter, Win Like a Candidate

Online Candidate — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 21:39:34 +0000

Are you watching your language? I’m talking about the language of your campaign as you reach out to voters. In your advertising, speeches, campaign website and one-to-one interactions, are you conversing with or talking down to your audience?

How do … Read the rest

The Candidate Statement: Communicating Your Vision to Voters

Shane Daley — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 21:19:17 +0000

Who are you to voters? At the start of an election campaign, political candidates outline their positions on various issues. These are called candidate statements, and they are used to help voters make informed choices. In this article, we will … Read the rest

Tips for Writing Your Political Candidate Biography

Shane Daley — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 14:00:06 +0000

Anyone running for office needs to write a political candidate biography. A good story adds a personal touch to your campaign. It provides information about your background, qualifications, and your positions on important issues.

Your candidate biography is a … Read the rest

Keep Your Campaign Material Original – And Avoid the Consequences

Online Candidate — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 17:42:32 +0000

Here’s a reminder to make sure that you have the proper rights and permission for anything you use for your political campaign. The Internet makes it easy to lift language or text from other sources without attribution – and makes … Read the rest

Handling Negative Posts About Your Campaign

Shane Daley — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 15:08:32 +0000

Politics – and especially local politics – can be vicious, especially on the web. And if you are a candidate, watch out! You will certainly face some sort of abuse online. It may be in posts, comments, or even through … Read the rest

Three Essential Political Website Disclaimers

Shane Daley — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 15:31:32 +0000

All US jurisdictions have laws covering the use of disclosure statements on political advertising. Specific items that both require a political disclosure statement include billboards, bumper stickers, sample ballots, newspaper ads, TV and radio ads, magazines, mass mailings, pamphlets, fliers, … Read the rest

Confusing Messaging Only Confuses Voters

Online Candidate — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 14:13:38 +0000

The old KISS principle means keep it simple, stupid. It basically means that things work best if they are kept simple rather than complicated.

The principle works in design. It works in systems. And the KISS principle works in … Read the rest

Local Election Laws And Your Campaign Website

Shane Daley — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 15:32:59 +0000

Although the web is often considered a freewheeling environment, local election laws still apply to online political campaigning. As a candidate, it’s essential to know what local election laws apply online before you start your digital campaign.

Common legal topics

… Read the rest