The Path to Public Office: Election and Appointment Process

The path to public office, whether through election or appointment, is an intricate journey filled with opportunities at various levels of government. From local councils to state legislatures and federal positions, each role plays a unique part in shaping our democracy. Understanding the election and appointment processes is crucial for anyone aspiring to serve in public office. Concerned constituents hoping to get involved in the policymaking process should also be aware of this process.

This blog explores the positions available at the federal, state, and local levels and the differences between elected and appointed roles. It also provides practical steps for building a successful political campaign. Your journey on the path to public office begins here.

Positions in Federal, State, and Local Government

If you want to run for public office, consider all of your options. There are many positions at the local, state, and federal levels that represent different areas and perform different functions. Here are some examples – make sure to check with your state and local governments to learn which specific offices they include.

Federal Offices

The top political offices in the United States are the president and vice president, but you can only run for president directly. In modern times, a presidential candidate chooses a running mate for vice president who runs on the same ticket.

To be elected to Congress, you can run as a senator or a member of the House of Representatives. Each state only has two senators, while the number of representatives varies by population.

Appointed positions at the federal level include cabinet secretaries, U.S. marshals, ambassadors and special envoys, and some inspector general positions.

State Offices

Governors lead all state governments. Most states also have a lieutenant governor, who may be elected separately or on the same ticket.

All states also have elected legislatures, which typically include state senators and representatives.

State cabinet positions may be appointed or elected. These can include:

• Secretary of state
• Treasurer
• Auditor
• Attorney general
• Superintendent of public instruction
• Commissioner of agriculture, insurance, labor, or public lands

Local Positions

Depending on the structure of your county, city, or town, public offices in local government can include:

• County commissioner, supervisor, or council member
• Town or city council member
• Mayor
• City manager
• County sheriff
• Municipal police chief

You can also run to become a school board member for your local school system.

Judicial Positions

Judicial positions include federal and state judges, U.S. and district attorneys, clerks of court, magistrates, and more. These can be appointed or elected, and some offices may require you to be a lawyer.

Elections vs. Appointments

Public officials may be chosen by election or appointment. Elected officials are voted into office by the public, while appointed officials are chosen by a board or another official. If the position you want to fill is appointed, contact the office in charge of appointments for their application process. For the purposes of this blog post, we’ll focus on elections.

The Path to Public Office: Getting Elected

For the best chance of getting elected to public office, it’s best not to jump right in. Prepare yourself with a strong foundation upon which you can build your political campaign. You don’t need to be a public policy expert, but learning more about your community and desired position can go a long way.

Getting Involved and Gaining Experience in Politics

Before running for office, it’s a good idea to get involved in your community. You’ll build credibility and expertise that will help you in your political career. Try joining local political organizations, volunteering with a campaign, and/or taking an active role in the local chapter of your political party.

To learn more about the work of an elected council, commission, or board, attend their public meetings. Check when topics you care about appear on their agenda and consider speaking if they allow public comment. To gain direct experience in a public service role, ask which local boards or commissions need members and apply to join them.

These steps will help you build a valuable network of support for your campaign. As you grow your network, it can help to find a mentor – someone to guide you along the path to public office. This could be a current or past officeholder or another community leader who can offer advice and wisdom.

Beginning the Path to Public Office: Running for Office

With so much involved in a political campaign, the path to public office may seem daunting. Breaking the process down into manageable pieces can help you take each step with confidence.

Deciding Which Position to Run For

When deciding which position you should run for, ask yourself these questions:

• Why are you running, and what are you hoping to change? Which positions have the ability to make those changes?
• Which public offices are up for election soon?
• Do you meet the eligibility requirements, such as age or residency?
• How competitive are elections for the office? Is there a popular incumbent? Will the seat be vacant soon?
• Is the election for the office partisan or nonpartisan?
• Will the time commitment and pay work for you?

Also look up ballot access laws for the office well before its filing deadline. You may need to pay a fee and/or collect signatures before you can get on the ballot.

Building Your Campaign: The Logistics

Once you’ve decided which office you’re running for, you can prepare your political campaign.

Building Your Team

First, start building your campaign team. The most important member is your campaign manager, who will oversee the campaign and its staff. Other potential roles include fundraising director, communications director, finance director, field (voter outreach) director, and volunteer coordinator. You may need to fill many of these roles yourself at first. As your campaign grows, you can recruit volunteers and possibly hire paid staff.

Building Your Campaign Budget

If this is your first time running for office, you may not know where to begin building a budget. To get an idea, look up campaign finance reports from previous elections. How much did other candidates for this office spend, and how competitive were their races? Take time to estimate and add up your expenses, such as the cost of office space, events, paid advertisements, and campaign materials.

Creating Your Technology Stack

Take some time to explore the technology that can help you run your campaign. We recommend a contact database, a website and web hosting, online donation processing tools, social media platforms, and analytics tools such as Google Analytics. You may also use a voter database, canvassing tools, phone banking tools, and more. Build a tech stack that serves your needs and fits your budget.

Communication Planning

Next, plan how you will get your message out to the public with external communications. Paid media advertisements can get you a lot of coverage, but the cost can be steep. Earned media, including news stories and interviews, is free but can be difficult to get. Social media is a powerful and vital tool for modern campaigns.

Don’t forget internal communications! It’s important to have regular two-way communication with your staff and volunteers.

Voter Outreach and Field Organizing

A voter targeting strategy will help you deliver the right messages to the right voters. Who is already on your side but needs to be mobilized to vote? Who will need persuading? Use this to plan and target your voter outreach, which can include door-to-door canvassing, phone banking, get-out-the-vote drives, and more.

Fundraising

Next is your campaign fundraising plan. Who are your potential donors, and how will you ask them for money? Consider phone calls, mailers, digital outreach, and fundraising events.

Make sure you understand and follow any campaign finance laws that apply to you! These can include financial disclosure and reporting requirements, contribution limits, public financing options, and more. Check with your state, county, and local governments to make sure you have all the information you need.

Goal Setting

Setting a fundraising goal and timeline will help keep your campaign moving forward. Consider your budget, the money you have on hand, and the money you still need to raise.

It can also be useful to set a vote target. How many votes will you need to win? You can look up turnout numbers from the past few elections to get an idea.

Creating Your Campaign Calendar

A campaign calendar will help you stay on track with your goals and remember important dates in the election cycle. Include key deadlines, events, fundraising milestones, and other campaign targets. A separate content calendar can help you organize your digital communications.

Developing Your Profile as a Candidate

You will also need to build a candidate profile. Who are you, and why are you running for office? Remember: if you don’t know the answer, neither will voters.

Issue Profile

What key issue areas can you impact if you are elected? Which ones are most important to your constituency? What issues are you uniquely qualified to address? Pick about three and explore potential solutions. Then, put together your thoughts, opinions, and plans for your top issues.

Know Your Strengths

A political campaign should draw on a candidate’s strengths, so take time to understand yours. What leadership skills do you have? What life experience or knowledge will help you serve effectively? If you’re not sure, ask friends, family, and other supporters.

Also consider how you stand out from your competitors. Will your background bring a unique perspective to the role, and can it help you reach an untapped group of voters?

Political Brand

Most voters will get to know you through your brand – the image you present to the public. Your brand can include a logo, a slogan or two, and a message that conveys who you are as a candidate and what you hope to accomplish. An effective brand is authentic, memorable, and meaningful to your audience.

Political Messaging

Your messaging should be clear, concise, and consistent. Focus on the broad ideas of your key issues and plans, looking for common themes or ideas that connect them. Listen to voters’ concerns and speak to them.

Preparing a 30-second “elevator pitch” can help you introduce yourself. Include your name, the office you’re running for, a key issue and how you will address it, and a reason why the listener should vote for you.

Planning Your Announcement

Once your candidate profile and campaign infrastructure are in place, you’re ready to announce your candidacy! Plan when and how you will make the announcement, including whether you will hold an event. This is a great opportunity for earned media, so prepare a press release and make sure you are available for interviews.

The Finish Line on the Path to Public Office: Election Day

On Election Day, you and your team can greet voters at key polling locations and continue get-out-the-vote efforts. Once the polls have closed, candidates often hold election night parties where they gather with staff and volunteers to watch the results come in. Plan your responses and press comments for any outcome – a victory, a loss, or an unclear result on election night. No matter the result, thank your supporters for all their hard work and belief in you.

After a loss, it is tradition to call your opponent to congratulate them and concede victory. If the result is unclear, a recount might be needed, so check the relevant election laws to find out whether one is allowed or required.

If you won the election, congratulations! It’s time to prepare for your work as a public officeholder.

Get Started With Plural

At Plural, we help concerned constituents and aspiring public servants alike understand the laws that impact their daily lives. With Plural, you’ll:

• Access superior public policy data 
• Be the first to know about new bills and changes in bill status
• Streamline your day with seamless organization features
• Harness the power of time-saving AI tools to gain insights into individual bills and the entire legislative landscape
• Keep everyone on the same page with internal collaboration and external reporting all in one place

Create a free account or book a demo today!

More Public Policy Resources