Why Training Political Campaign Staff Matters Just as Much as Candidates
7 min
Published: January 21st, 2026
Table of contents
The Political Campaign Staff Problem
The Multiplier Effect of Trained Political Campaign Staff
Real People, Real Impact
What This Means for Our Next Steps
You're Part of This Pipeline
Even the most prepared candidates can lose elections if they don’t have the right team around them. No one can do this thing alone. If you don't have someone who knows how to build a field plan, manage volunteers, or navigate compliance requirements, you're fighting with one hand tied behind your back.
But most first-time candidates running for local office can't afford to hire experienced consultants or seasoned political campaign staff. We know that.
They're teachers, small business owners, organizers, and working parents who are stepping up because they care — not because they have a war chest or political connections.
So what happens? They either run barebones campaigns and hope passion carries them through, or they don't run at all because the barrier to entry feels too high.
That’s the gap we’re working to close. And we’re doing it successfully. In 2025 alone — a so-called “off-year” — over 960 winning candidates got their start with NDTC, learning how to build a strong team from the ground up.
The Political Campaign Staff Problem
Every election cycle, Democratic candidates across the country face the same challenge: finding qualified people to run their campaigns.
Field directors who understand voter contact strategy. Finance staff who can build sustainable fundraising operations. Communications directors who can craft messages that actually resonate with voters. These roles require real skills — not just political passion. And demand far outpaces supply.
Competitive races attract experienced staff. But down-ballot campaigns, first-time candidates, and races in underestimated districts? They're often left scrambling. They tap friends and family members with zero campaign experience. They piece together advice from Google and hope for the best. Or they go it alone and burn out long before Election Day.
This isn't sustainable. And it's certainly not how we build the bench of Democratic leaders our communities need.
NDTC's Role in Building Campaign Teams
When we launched NDTC in 2016, the focus was clear: train Democrats to run for office. And we've done that — over 125,000 people have gone through our programs.
But as we've grown, something else has become equally clear: candidates aren’t the only ones who need to know how to run. They need teams who know how to win.
That's why we're training them. We're coaching the field organizers, campaign managers, and communications staff who turn strong campaigns into winning ones.
Our courses teach the same skills that professional consultants charge thousands of dollars to provide — except we provide them freely to anyone who wants to learn.
Want to understand how to build a field plan that actually drives results? We've got a course for that.
Need to learn how to manage volunteers without burning them out? We teach that.
Trying to figure out campaign finance compliance so you don't accidentally break the law? We cover it.
These are practical, tactical skills that you can take directly into campaigns, whether you’re the candidate or joining someone else's team.
The Multiplier Effect of Trained Political Campaign Staff
When we train both candidates and political campaign staff, there’s a multiplier effect.
If you’re a first-time candidate who takes our "So You Think You Want To Run" course, you suddenly know what questions to ask when building your team. You understand what a field plan should look like. You’re not starting from zero.
And when you connect with a volunteer who took our "Intro to Field" course, you’re getting someone with applicable skills who can hit the ground running. Not just a supportive friend who doesn’t actually know what they’re signing up for.
The network we're building is a pipeline where trained candidates can find trained staff and turn their joint knowledge into wins.
Real People, Real Impact
The NDTC learners who've gone through our programs are winning races.
We've trained field organizers who managed voter contact operations that flipped county boards. Campaign managers who ran winning state legislative races on small budgets. Communications directors who crafted messages that broke through in crowded primaries. Many of them started as volunteers who took one training, then another, then found themselves with the skills and confidence to take on paid campaign roles.
The point is that there's no single path. But there is a clear need, and NDTC is meeting it by making professional-level political campaign staff training available to anyone who wants it.
What This Means for Our Next Steps
Races are decided by the candidate with the better ground game, by who builds stronger volunteer operations, who communicates more effectively, and who organizes smarter.
In other words, they're decided by the quality of the teams behind the campaigns.
That's why we're scaling up with more courses focused on political campaign staff roles, new resources for people looking to break into political work, and fresh ways to connect trained candidates with trained staff.
Because winning in 2026 isn't just about finding good candidates. It's about making sure those candidates have the staff and teams they need to win.
You're Part of This Pipeline
If you've ever thought about working on a campaign but didn't know where to start, this is your invitation.
If you've volunteered on campaigns and wondered how to turn that into paid work, we can help you build those skills.
If you're a candidate trying to figure out how to staff your campaign without breaking the bank, our trained learners are out there ready to help.
We’re building the long-term infrastructure that makes Democratic organizing stronger, more professional, and more accessible.
Ready to build your campaign skills? Explore our free courses and find the training that fits where you want to go.
Running for office and need to build your team? Check out our resources on hiring and managing political campaign staff.
