How to Run for Office: A Step-by-Step Guide for First-Time Candidates
6 min
When we think about politics, we often think about mid-terms, national campaigns, and heated presidential debates. But the daily heart of American democracy lies in our city councils, school boards, county commissions, and municipal offices.
Every month, new candidates are elected across the country, and they determine everything from school funding to road repairs, housing policies, and access to public spaces.
Here’s the thing: too many Republicans are running unopposed in these races, because Democrats leave too many seats uncontested. BallotReady estimates over 100,000 seats – majority school boards and city councils – on the ballot in 2025, an “off year,” alone. In other words, there are over 100,000 opportunities for Democrats to step up and make the difference.
Why Don’t More Democrats Run for Political Office?
There’s a host of barriers keeping Democrats from running for office, but a lot of them boil down to the fact that it can be daunting and confusing. From navigating filing deadlines, to canvassing neighborhoods, to fundraising, there’s plenty to learn. Where do you even start?!
That’s where NDTC steps in. We’re on a mission to demystify the political process, lower the barrier to entry, and help everyday people just like you learn how to run for office, launch campaigns, and win. (Yes, we want YOU to win!)
Whether you’re starting from scratch or need to fill some gaps along the way on your campaign, we’re here to help you get where you’re going with live trainings, asynchronous courses, and downloadable resources – all for free. We cover a wide range of campaign topics and answer the most common questions for first-timers, plus we’ve got a community of committed Democrats ready to connect you with. You’re not alone in this process, just get started and we’ll take it from there.
Ready to Start? Take NDTC’s “So You Think You Want to Run?”
Our signature training “So You Think You Want to Run” is the best crash course for first-time candidates just getting started. It’s less than an hour and has helped train over 5,000 candidates across the country. If the idea of running for office has been in the back of your mind, “So You Think You Want to Run” will prepare you make that decision.
We’ve packaged this curriculum in two ways, so you can decide what’s best for you.
Self-Paced Online Academy: If your biggest concern is working around your schedule, this is the right approach for you. In an asynchronous, self-paced course, we’ll cover the core steps of running for office and the conversations you’ll have along the way. It’s available 24/7, so you can start, pause, and complete the course any time while juggling a busy life.
Virtual Live Training: Have specific questions you want answered? Looking to find and build community? Our next virtual live training session is the place for you. Here, an industry expert will walk you through the training in real time, with other prospective candidates just like you. We offer a So You Want to Run for Office session monthly, so check out when it’s coming up next and reserve your spot by clicking here.
What Office Should You Run For?
Knowing how to run for office starts with knowing what you’re fired up about. Maybe it’s education and school funding. Or maybe you daydream about how you’d improve public safety. Pay attention to what ignites you. Your “why” matters much more than your title.
Ask yourself:
What issues do I care about? (Voting rights? Housing? Climate change?)
Where can I make the most impact? (School board? City council?)
What’s the right level for my skill set? (Local, county, or state?)
We have trainings specifically designed to help you match your passion with the right office, so that when you’re ready, you’ll confidently know where and how you can make the biggest impact. Try starting with our Understanding the Democratic Party course to explore different elected offices and their functions.
NDTC Alumni Are Changing the Country. You Can Join Them.
Take Lauren Underwood for example, an NDTC learner who was driven to run for office as a nurse when her representative voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Changemakers are everyday people who got fed up, and stepped up to demand change.
They’re the folks who are tired of their community being overlooked, the cost of groceries, or the lack of funding for their kid’s school. The examples are endless. And it all starts when they finally say: “If not me, then who?”
Every Lauren Underwood, Maxwell Frost, and Jasmine Crockett once stood in your shoes, wondering if they could make a difference. The only difference is they’ve already taken action (and NDTC trainings!)
Democracy Needs You: Are You Ready to Run as a Democrat?
If you ever thought about making change in your community, there’s no better time or place to learn how to run for office. Our democracy needs leaders who are ready to show up, speak out, and take action.
NDTC is here to support you for free at every step. Sign up for a So You Want to Run for Office session or click here to see what other offerings can help start your journey and build a stronger democracy.
It begins with you, but it happens together.
