A political campaign is an organized effort to influence the decision making progress of a group. It can include electoral campaigns – by which representatives are elected or referendums are decided – or, in more high profile cases, the campaign to elect head of state or government. In this context, the term can also refer to the work of a lobbying firm or advocacy organisation.
The work of a political campaign can be demanding. Many staffers will spend a lot of their time in the field – visiting voters, delivering speeches and holding events – and this can be both physically and socially tiring. Campaigns can also be highly competitive and require high levels of professional campaigning skills to win.
Campaigns typically have very little space for substantive policy work these days, and voter impressions of candidate positions are often based on paid advertising or viral moments throughout a campaign. However, the Supreme Court decision that allows corporations to donate unlimited amounts of money to campaigns will likely result in a river of cash flowing into politics and may give rise to new opportunities for substantive policy work.
A political campaign can provide a valuable experience, particularly for students or young professionals interested in working in politics-adjacent fields after the election. But it’s important to carefully consider what type of campaign you want to get involved in and which policy issues you want to advance, as well as your preferred political party and whether you have any intention of running for office yourself in the future.
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