Running a successful election takes time, effort, and money to make it all work and win the most votes. Whether your client is considering a run for state office or the local school board, running that first campaign can be intimidating. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. When they start the process prepared for what’s coming, they will be more likely to succeed.

Running a Successful Election: What Candidates Must Do

Launching any election campaign should begin with securing Public Officials Liability & Employment Practices Liability insurance and end with a solid election plan.

Ask Questions at Every Chance

Running a successful election takes patience, and candidates must do their research. The best way for your clients to learn about the role they are running for, their constituents, and their day-to-day expectations is to ask questions. It is vital to take every opportunity to ask those who held the position before to gain insight into their experiences. Talk with constituents about what their challenges are and how you could help. Ask questions and learn how to use that information to fortify the campaign.

Choose Your Own Staff

Here is what your client should do before they hire campaign staff:

1. Obtain Public Officials Liability & Employment Practices Liability coverage.
2. Choose their own campaign staff members.
3. Remember that these are the people you rely on to get you through the campaign and help you win, so choose accordingly and build a powerful team that you can be confident in.
4. Don’t turn down help, either.

Volunteers, family members, and other contributors can be great resources!

Running a Successful Election: Put Yourself Out There

Your client must realize how essential visibility is. Visibility is critical to their campaign success, but they need protection, too. Advise your client about obtaining Public Officials Liability & Employment Practices Liability so that they receive protection in case of any mistakes while on the campaign trail. Anything can happen while campaigning, so they should ensure they have coverage.

Running a Successful Election: Know the Numbers You Need

Winning any election isn’t about getting every vote. It’s about getting more votes than your opponent. While your client should put every effort into getting as many votes as possible, they should also know the baseline numbers. Advise them to research past elections and see the averages for votes for the other party. That way, they know how many votes they’ll need in their corner to win. It helps them target their efforts accordingly.

Maintain Professional Liability Coverage for Public Officials

From the beginning of your client’s campaign, if they win, they should ensure they have a professional liability policy for public officials throughout their service. This coverage can help those serving in the public eye. It will protect your clients against liability claims, perceived false statements, and errors or omissions. 

Any campaign can be successful with proper preparation and a strong team. Your client should build their team accordingly, determine their message, and hit the campaign trail to improve their chances of winning the seat on election day. 

About PGUI

Professional Governmental Underwriters, LLC., is a full-service risk management company dedicated to assisting public, educational and non-profit entities in the management of their professional liability exposures including educators liability insurance. We are dedicated to providing state-of-the-art professional underwriting management and loss control advisory services on behalf of our designated carriers. For more information, call us toll-free at (800) 586-6502.