DPDC Candidate Support:
Building a Community of Allies
As a candidate running for office, building strong, collaborative relationships with labor unions, non-profit organizations, community groups, and local Democratic organizations is essential for achieving success in your campaign. This page will explore why each of these groups plays a crucial role in your race, outlining how their support and involvement can drive momentum, broaden your reach, and strengthen your platform.
Importance of developing relationships:
a. Running for elected office and will be working with various organizations in that position
b. Endorsements
c. Funding
d. Volunteers
e. Content
f. Platform Enhancements
Scroll down for some of the help that different types of allies can provide.
CATEGORIES OF ALLIES AND HOW THOSE RELATIONSHIPS CAN HELP YOUR CAMPAIGN
LABOR UNIONS
Most candidates are vying for positions that will directly engage with unions, whether in representing employees or navigating contract negotiations. As Democrats, it is vital for our candidates to take the initiative to connect with local unions—to listen to their concerns, ideas, and feedback on the issues that matter most. Unions also serve as invaluable resources for candidates. They often offer endorsements, provide financial support for campaigns, and mobilize volunteers for canvassing, literature drops, and in-person events. Building strong ties with unions is a key component of a successful campaign strategy.
NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
Nonprofits and community organizations are invaluable resources for gaining insight into your district, understanding local programs and services, and identifying the issues that matter most to your constituents. Engaging with these groups helps candidates stay connected to the community's needs. Some organizations, such as the Sierra Club, offer endorsements in select races, which can significantly strengthen a candidate’s position in their race. Additionally, partnering with these organizations provides excellent opportunities to create content for social media or your campaign website, showcasing your commitment to engaging with the community and sharing valuable resources. Organizations like the League of Women Voters also host candidate forums and compile voter guides, further enhancing your visibility and outreach efforts at no cost to the candidate.
e.g. Local Democrat Groups (e.g.Indivisible, Women’s March, Moms Demand Action)
DEMOCRATIC PARTY ORGANIZATIONS & PRECINCT COMMITTEE PEOPLE
Engaging with local township democratic organizations is crucial for candidates running in DuPage County. Each township has its own Democratic organization that can connect candidates with vital resources, volunteers, and supporters. Depending on the race, some townships may even print voter guides at no cost to the candidate or offer endorsements. Additionally, Democratic township organizations can support your campaign by helping with the distribution of yard signs, literature drops, and canvassing efforts. Campaigns require a tremendous amount of work, and often, the day-to-day tasks are managed by a small team—many times just the candidate and one other person. Any support, especially in spreading campaign information, is an invaluable asset to ensuring the success of your race.
Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI)
County Democratic Party
Local Township Democratic Organizations
OTHER CANDIDATES
Coordinating with fellow candidates is essential, especially when running in a large district. By teaming up with others, candidates can collaborate on literature drops and canvassing efforts, sharing volunteers and avoiding duplicated work. This allows you to cover more ground and maximize outreach. Additionally, campaigns can pool resources to create joint mailers, host events, or other outreach efforts, significantly reducing costs for individual campaigns. If you collaborate with an incumbent running for re-election, you can benefit from their established name recognition and reputation in the community. Partnering with them on canvassing or literature drops can also enhance your own visibility and credibility with voters.