How to Get Involved in Politics: The Ultimate Guide

Taking part in civic life is a dream of many aspiring individuals.

They realize voting isn’t nearly enough to change society for the better. This outcome depends not on political dynasties like the Clintons and Kennedys, but millions of ordinary people with their hearts in the right place.

The only problem is they often don’t know how to get involved in politics. Indeed, it’s difficult to find solid entry points and build a political career from scratch.

The truth is pathways many and they are long and taxing. You don’t get to speak in front of the masses before pounding some pavement first. The bottom line is you need to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into.

The good news is stellar pedigree isn’t a prerequisite. Instead, you have to rely on your enthusiasm, perseverance, and knowledge. Use this comprehensive guide as a roadmap for achieving your ambitions.

How to Get Involved in Politics: Basic Tips

Joining politics can mean a lot of different things to different people.

Some want to make a difference in their local community and beyond. Others seek to study political sciences or represent their country aboard.  Then, there are those who are after prestige and power.

These are all legitimate reasons for launching the political endeavor. The first fundamental rule is you need to have clarity of vision and a sense of purpose. In other words, establish your goals and targets beforehand.

You can aim at one of the major areas, such as public relations, school funding/public education, political strategy, and consulting. No, you don’t need an academic background in political sentience, law, economics, or similar.

A degree certainly helps but it’s rarely a requirement for entry-level positions. What you want to do is get the lay of the political landscape.

Practical Education

The first step is to familiarize yourself with various forms of political engagement.     

In particular, find out the size of the district and its population. Discover what the topics that preoccupy voters are.  Take a look at all the active organizations in the area.

Learn how public institutions work and who the people working there are. It’s equally vital to know how one goes about properly contacting these organizations.

Be in tune with the latest political news and affairs.

Make a habit of reading local, state, and national newspapers. You can’t go wrong with the Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, etc. In addition, scour the web for credible information.

Perhaps a local blogger has something insightful to say about the goings-on in your neighborhood.

If the election season is nigh, you have some more homework to do. After all, this monumental political event is a chance for many newcomers to prove their worth on a big stage.

At the very least, you should be able to have thoughtful political conversations with others. Nobody will take you too seriously at the beginning, but at least you’ll be able to make a nice first impression.

Talking About Levels

It also makes sense to pick a desired political level: local, state, or federal.

Note that only selected few really launch their careers at a federal level. President Donald Trump is one of them, but he had a business empire and public persona working for him. Most people don’t.

They can’t just go after a governor or congress position without local support and renown.

This is to say starting in your local backyard and gradually working your way up is a more natural and feasible progression journey. You could, for instance, strive for the town hall, local government, city council, or similar institution.

Before that though, you have a long way to go. It’s imperative to get out there and make yourself known in the community.

Laying the Groundwork Locally  

The opportunities are plentiful.

For example, attend school board and municipal meetings and participate in discussions surrounding pressing issues. You should be able to easily find event calendars and current agendas online. The same goes for public minutes after the event.

And don’t just show up and sit in the back row. Speak up and make your stance clear. Try to network with like-minded local activists. They can show you around and offer other useful advice.

Even better, capture the attention of local state representatives. Notice some of them, like Dennis Bonnen, have their own websites with useful information and contact pages.

Moving on, see if there are any upcoming rallies and protests. Check out Facebook groups announcing such events, as well as providing itineraries and guidelines. Get active in these virtual political spaces and send a positive signal to group members.  

After all, many political processes have moved online in recent years. Take the example of Twitter. It represents ground zero for many grassroots movements and a place where political discussions reach fever-pitch.

You can get in touch with local representatives or exchange blows with opposing factions there.

Joining the Party

Registering with a political party is the first step for many rookies.

The first order of business is to learn who is who in the party. Regardless of which party we’re talking about here, there are some similarities. 

Precinct and ward leaders play a pivotal role in political processes. They act as rank-and-file individuals, who screen candidates for local office. So, getting on their good side (or at least their radar) is highly advisable.

At one point, you might be tempted to put your name on a ballot. A seat on a local party committee, for instance, is a powerful launching pad for any political career.

And this is when you have to build a strong team around you. Namely, pick trusted and competent advisors that will stick with you every step of the way.

Stay alert to what is unraveling behind the scenes. There could always some backroom deals and secret coteries you’re not aware of.

Oh, and expect to get the utmost level of scrutiny from media and opposing candidates. You may have thick skin, but your family members could be more sensitive. Make sure they have an idea of what’s coming.

Campaign Work

An alternative to party life is to volunteer on a campaign.

Every campaign needs its driving force— a group of hardworking and ambitious people. This is true for small-scale campaigns (think local school boards) and national political events. They serve as “footmen” on the field or in campaign headquarters.

Ideally, you’re able to find a candidate and campaign you really believe in. But, any port in the storm does it when the clouds look grim.

You just can’t expect to cut many corners. Most of the tasks are quite menial in nature. You make phone calls, distribute flyers, or register voters. You’re light years away from running for Congress, which pays salaries in six figures.

Only gradually can you be bestowed with more responsibility and exposure.

It’s also uncommon for novices and ordinary activists to make a living out of politics. In the early stages, a political career is more a labor of passion and civic duty. Be sure you are fine with breadcrumbs and pocket money for starters.

Money, Connections, and Influence

That being said, it’s possible to accelerate your career advancement.

You can do it by knowing and rubbing elbows with the right decision-makers. Many insiders would agree know-who is more important than know-how.

People whose family members have deep roots in major parties will always have a head start.

Another asset that’s easy to leverage is money. Contributing it to a political candidate puts you in a position to have his/her ear. In this way, money buys access, even to upper echelons of a party.

Some well-off businessmen decide to go the extra mile and start political action committees (PACs) and super PACs. These 527 organizations have one goal in mind: providing ongoing financial support to a specific candidate.

They are allowed to spend without limit on activities such as advertising campaigns.

With more contributions come more access and influence. But, it’s not like you have to donate a small fortune. Contribute just a few dozen dollars and a local candidate may take notice of that.

While nobody can refute money and connections are mighty tools, we want to make something clear. It’s possible to climb the ladder relying on your own drive and perseverance alone.

Take a Stance, Spring Into Action

Knowing how to get involved in politics isn’t something that simply dawns on you.

You have to embrace a proactive, from-the-ground-up approach. Start by educating yourself and getting on top of current political issues.

Your best bet is to start locally and ascend propelled by your input and contribution there. So, check out what is going around the town and meet people close to the sources of political activity.  Get behind political movements or joint a political party/organization.

Dedicate your money, blood, sweat, and tears to a worthy cause. Communicate your value properly to those calling the shots. Run for an elected office and use it as a means of fast-tracking your career development.

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