Opposition Research 101

Opposition research is not an invasion of privacy; it’s research. In fact, it’s one of the most important tools for running an informed, effective campaign. By uncovering publicly available information about your opponent(s), you can better draw a distinction between your experiences and show voters why you’re the better pick for the office. In this course, we’ll help you understand what and where to research, what to do with what you find, and how to look up your own history to prepare for what others might find about you. 

Course Objectives

• Recognize the ways opposition research fits into your campaign

• Develop skills for conducting opposition research through avenues like social media, public records, and specialized information databases

• Practice conducting research on yourself to better understand what the opposition will be able to find out about you

• Create a plan to highlight differences between you and your opponent