To run for the House of Representatives, you must be at least 25 years old. You must have been a United States citizen for at least seven years. You must also be a resident of the state and district you’re representing at the time you file your petition. To run for Senate, you must be at least 30 years old. You must have been a citizen for at least nine years. You must also live in the state you want to represent in the Senate.
Many senators and congresspeople have degrees in business and law. It may be worth it to get a law degree (Commonly known as the Juris Doctor Degree) or MBA in addition to a bachelor’s degree in business or pre-law. You can also try broader degrees, like political science, philosophy, and business, and then pursue a law degree. A few years of experience as a lawyer or businessperson may help with a political career. This is not required to run for Congress, however, it is very recommended to help you gain experience in the related field. However, not every congressperson pursues a business or law before politics. You can pursue a political career straight out of college. Think about pursuing a degree like a political science degree, or a degree in something like public policy or international relations, and launching your career from there.
Volunteer. Volunteering is easy to do and can help you gain much of the necessary experience to be a congressperson. You can, for example, volunteer for a local political party. Try to help out with things like fundraising or community organizing. You can also take on a leadership role in the organization. Look into working for local charities. Whether it’s volunteering or taking a part time paid position, charity work can be great for a political resume. It usually involves things like fundraising and interacting with the public. Seek out internship experience while you’re still in school. Experience interning for a local political party can look great on your resume.
Get involved with organizations that are personally meaningful to you. Every congressperson runs on a particular platform, and you will want to show early commitment to that platform. For example, if religion is important to you, take a leadership position in your church. Join the vestry. If education is important to you, see if you can find a position on the local school board or PTA.
You can try taking on a leadership position in a local political party. For example, volunteer to become the treasurer for your local Democrat or Republican party. You can also run for a local office. Requirements will vary from state-to-state, and between specific counties, so you’ll have to check with a local courthouse. However, running for, say, the local city council could help you become established in politics. Simply volunteering is also key. Often, you can get your foot in the door with local politics just by being a loyal volunteer. During election seasons, for example, offer to help with fundraising or to make phone calls.
Review the policies of major political parties in the United States. Pay attention to how Democrats and Republicans tend to vote on big issues like healthcare, the environment, and education. See which side best represents your opinions and perspective. While most people in Congress are Democrat or Republican, you do not have to choose a major party if you don’t agree with either platform. You can examine the views of alternative parties, such as the Green Party or the Libertarian Party.
Attend things like rallies and fundraisers and talk to people in your community. You should also talk to people in positions of power, such as chairs of local grassroots organizations or branches of a political party. Get contact information, such as email, so you can get in touch down the road when you need support for your campaign. Staying involved in the local political circuit also helps you make connections. Maintaining longstanding leadership or volunteer positions in a local political party is a great way to secure the connections necessary to succeed.
Look for assistant positions, such as staff and legislative assistants. You will help with specific political committees and campaigns. While a lot of your work is basic administrative work, you will also have to talk to people like lobbyists and members of Congress. This can help you make connections and get a feel for the political world. Try to work for a congressperson as a chief of staff. You will essentially be an assistant to an actual member of congress. You may have to work other positions for years before securing this one, but it’s an invaluable way to gain firsthand political experience.
You have to register with the right party no later than the first business day of January of an election year. Keep this in mind to make sure you register in time.
When collecting signatures, this is a time to return to your network. Talk to people you worked with locally and past contacts from jobs. Remember, people will not sign your petition unless they want you on the ballot. Have your local party support you. If you’re, say, running as a Democrat, have members of your local Democratic party volunteer to collect signatures for you. Begin forming a group of volunteers, contacting people you know. You should also send out mass e-mails to members of your party, outlining your platforms and idea. Ask for them to sign your petition and seek signatures from others.
If donations are necessary, you should return to your base. You can ask local political parties to help raise money for you. You can also set up something like a GoFundMe page to raise the money.
A Statement of Organization Form must be submitted after you’ve earned a certain amount of money via contributions, usually $2,000, or 10 days after becoming a candidate. This form usually requires basic information, such as your name, e-mail, and so on. [10] X Trustworthy Source State of Michigan Official website for the State of Michigan Go to source As your campaign goes on, you need to fill out the Campaign Finance Disclosure form. This form highlights how you’re spending money on your campaign.
A treasurer manages campaign finances. You should hire a professional who has experience handling and tracking money. A professional accountant is your best option, especially for a large campaign. A fundraiser is responsible for raising money for your campaign. They must also make sure you are able to fundraise effectively at events and focus on how to best present yourself to the people to gain donations. Pick someone who knows you well for this position. In this case, it’s okay to hire someone like a family member or spouse. The campaign manager runs your campaign alongside you. While you are busy with public appearances and fundraising, your campaign manager handles campaign problems and looks for opportunities. Hire a campaign manager with a vast amount of political experience and whose vision aligns with yours.
For example, if you’re running in a state facing economic turmoil, try to appeal to the working class. Offer concrete ways to create more jobs and protect worker’s rights.
Focus on the issues before asking for money. At charity events or fundraisers, people who attend already respect and support you. Talk to them about your plans to make the country a better place, reminding them why you’re their candidate. Only ask for money after making your campaign plans clear. Encourage your campaign fundraiser to get as many volunteers to fundraise as possible. A strong group of volunteers making phone calls asking for donations can help you raise the money necessary to win.
Make sure you have a website that’s easy to read. If it’s within your budget, it’s worth it to hire staff to build your web presence. You should also be on social media. Having things like Facebook and Twitter can help your campaign grow. You can communicate about your platform with voters in a more direct manner. You should also allocate some of your budget to signs and banners. Name recognition also makes a big difference in a campaign, so make sure your supporters have things like signs, bumper stickers, and banners out supporting your candidacy.
Know the issues that matter to the group in question. If you’re speaking to teachers, for example, talk about issues related to education, such as funding for public schools. If you’re going into a debate, prepare carefully. Know your opponent’s stances in depth and be prepared to defend your positions as necessary.
