Win Your First Damn Election

Darcie Sosa only wins elections. She's a veteran social media manager who has guided countless campaigns to victory with a well-rounded and robust social media offensive. We delve into working algorithms to your favor, balancing your content and making it go further, and more. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Taking the energy and momentum of a movement to actualize real change in a local budgets, policies, and laws. Organize, focus on a specific goal, lobby elected officials, keep them accountable and be persistent. Don't be sidetracked by paralysis by analysis tactics and keep elected officials' feet to the fire. You CAN make change. Be persistent!

E8 Utilize supporter energy into valuable content and expands your message and reach, through an organized letter to the editor campaign, the repurposing of this content and more for a powerful organic social media reach. This includes supporter based content, and also the utilization of your supporters to engage in challenges from your opponent and opponent supporters - and just straight-out trolls. Veteran Political Social media manager Darcie Sosa and veteran campaign consultant Tim Kushi weigh in. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Popular Mass. State Rep. Paul Mark on his first election run, deciding to run, working the ground game, conversations with voters, identifying support, GOTV. Rep. Mark is an unapologetic union member who fights for progressive causes, earning widespread appeal in his sprawling district of 16 different communities as a true representative for the people. He is also the chair of the state's re-districting committee, and has served as a key spokeperson to ensure Massachusetts is well-represented through the US Census process.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

E7 Let's raise the money you need to win. Setup the framework to generate funds through traditional means and through online platforms. How to establish your base of funds through asking your key network of friends and family. The rally/fundraiser event(s) is a key way to bolster more support and generate momentum. Longtime political event planner Christine Auge Yon offers a framework for a successful fundraiser/rally through thoughtful planning and projecting yourself as a winner. Councilor and state Democratic committeewoman Helen Moon offers a schematic on how to get started on your fundraising path.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Ep6 a deep dive into leading effective conversations with voters, why listening (truly listening) is critical, why you need to “drink the iced tea,” people vote for people they like, the 95/5 rule, and why coffees (or house parties) are incredibly effective in grassroots campaigns. We break it down with some help from State Rep Paul Mark, Councilor Patrick Kavey and former Councilor Mike Ward. #politics #runningforoffice #candidatestories --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Ep 5 A new candidate needs to identify voter lists that will make his/her time most efficient when canvassing, while also striving to increase voter turnout. This means not only targeting voters who participated in past elections similar to yours, but also finding pockets of voters who you can inspire. This will increase your own support as well as overall voter turnout, which will give a newcomer a better shot if running against an incumbent. This means not limiting yourself to so-called "super voters." Also, services like Votebuilder (with deep historical data on voters) allow you to create lists that can help not only identify likely voters for your race, but also can help you identify pockets possible new voters who may contribute to your support. And finally, we explore why you should think twice before skipping doors that are not on your list and how buzz and word-of-mouth bolsters your campaign. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Holyoke (Mass.) Mayor Alex Morse is running to unseat powerful Democratic establishment Congressman Richard Neal in the Massachusetts 1st District. The race presents a dramatic contrast, as Neal is one of the largest receivers of corporate PAC dollars on Capitol Hill, is the only member of the Massachusetts delegation who has not come out in support of the Green New Deal, is not in favor of Medicare for All. Morse contrasts significantly in all these areas. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Ep. 4 What advantages do new candidates have vs. an incumbent? Also, we talk the talk with news reporters and mastering your message. John goes into detail with State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier on the areas where new candidates can have strategic advantages, which includes: The desire for change among the electorate, the ability to critique the record of an incumbent while not having to defend your own, and the ability to put more time into the campaign (often the case for new candidates - but not always). On messaging, you may get tired of hearing yourself speak, as you'll need to repeat your message time, and time, and time again. And reporters are people too, and our ace news reporting contributor Amanda Drane offers ways that new candidates, or really any politician, can build a better working relationship with those who cover them. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

LAWN SIGNS - everything you need to know (and more). Design and create an effective lawn/yard sign and how rolling out lawn signs can show momentum for your campaign. Lawn sign etiquette. Do lawn signs vote? How to secure lawn sign locations and how to gain traction with voters who already have your opponent's lawn sign in their yard. This is a deep dive with John and former councilor, Mike Ward. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Ep. 3 The time before pulling nomination papers is important for conversations behind the scenes to plant seeds for support among those influencers in the community. The timing and preparation to actually take out nomination papers, readying for a conversation with reporters and some basics on campaign finance. Now, identifying influencers is a bit different in politics. For instance support from an affable, well-known postal worker may be the best endorsement there is in a local race. City Councilor Helen Moon also talks about how growing that network will be the first steps in being an effective elected official over time. Oh, and she credits her mailman as a key source of support in her ward. Reporter Amanda Drane says that candidates who are actually prepared to say why they are running makes for a better interview. So be ready with your message and why you are running. And then, campaign finance. We offer the basics here. There are plenty of rules that you'll have to follow - so you'll need to understand the finance rules overseeing your election process. You don't want to make yourself vulnerable to attacks by your opponent by missing a deadline or breaking a rule by accepting the wrong kind of contribution, among other possible violations. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Ep. 2 Democracy is not an individual sport, it's a team game. The first people you need to get on-board for a winning campaign is a team of people willing to work for you. For many entry level campaigns, that core team may not be more than one or two people. And, while it may help to have those who have political experience, you need workhorses over show horses. You don't need strategists, you need people who will do the tasks to organize volunteers, to plan coffees and events, to get bodies out for visibilities and more. We talk with former Councilor Mike Ward on his team that helped him beat a longtime incumbent. Also, City Councilor Yuki Cohen talks about her process in building the "brand" of her candidacy, which was incredibly effective because it was built on reflecting her own persona, her own energy and kindness as a candidate. Authenticity: You've got to have it. And then we break down some of the basics of photography, design and other components of the palm card, which will accompany you when you go knock, knock, knockin' on doors. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Ep. 1 The beginning of the journey, deciding to run. If you have your doubts, I am going to tell you that you can do it. And if you run the right kind of campaign, you surely can win a race for public office. We've got the blueprint starting with this episode. We talk with Massachusetts State Committee representative and City Councilor Helen Moon on the Why? Why are you running for office. State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier asks you to truly understand the full time commitment required to do the actual job you're running for. And City Council Patrick Kavey, who ran a steamroller of a ground game to win his seat, talks about his process of taking the leap (and that's what you need to do: take the leap) to decide to run for office. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app