Distribution 73.07% urban, 26.93% rural
Population (2000) 585,305[1]
Median income $43,176[1]
Ethnicity 91.6% White, 3.2% Black, 1.9% Asian,
3.2% Hispanic, 0.4% Native AmericanThe state of our nation answers the “should”, only you can answer the “I”
Not from IOWA here, but you have my bump, encouragement, and thanks!
Please keep me posted on your decision and your eventual campaign.
Of course, if you've never said anything that could come back to bite you, you are golden, and smarter than most of us here.
Be sure your family (immediate and extended) are behind you in this. It will be VERY stressful on them as well.
If I were in MI 1. I would run against a personal friend of mine. But, since I am now in AZ and have a good congressman, I dont have to. But I can support those like yourself.
A hairbrained thought just occurred to me.
There are likely a lot of potential candidates amongst us here on FR. What excuses could we make not to move and support a few of our own for offices across the nation? Even if only at the local levels?
Bumping to bray. He’s in OR but has writen material on elections and doing a lot of good work in OR for Pubbies.
He may have some advice he can send personally to you.
If you decide to run - best of luck!
Here is how you handle past personal things. “My personal life is none of your business, and when we investigate Harry Rieds/Obamas/Pelousys, etc criminal activity, then I might consider talking about my past.”
God bless and keep you.
Which cities are in the 3rd District?
Qualifications? Being a US Navy Vet is a nice thing on your resume, but what else is there?
Any advice for a FReeper thinking about taking on Frankenstein?
In case you haven’t seen this:
UFCW Endorses Staci Appel in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/21/ufcw-endorses-appel-idUSnBw216422a+100+BSW20131021
Also, looks like Steve King is the Rep from District 4 (right above yours). He’s one of my favorite Reps. You might see if you can get some advice from him and/or perhaps one of his staffers.
Do it. We need good people, The money and votes will come. He voted against us.
Do you have any experience in political campaigns or as a public official? What kind of preparations have you made to prepare to run for office? What kind of personal cash, fund raising potential, and base of support do you have? Running for office is tough enough even with adequate preparation and readiness, but without them, it is a misery and futility.
I’ll support you anyway I can.
I’m in California, but I’ll do everything I can to help you.
I hope your past is clean, clear back to the time your diapers weren’t.
“Tom Latham is Boner’s BUTT BUDDY!”
Well, there’s your campaign right there. Start printing signs.
You need much more than 375 signatures. You need lots of money. While there are plenty of exceptions, and I’ve seen several of them, the rule is that the candidate with the most money wins. Why? Money equal exposure, and exposure equals name ID.
Incumbents have three very large advantages, and all would need to be overcome or managed.
1. Name ID. All things being equal, the candidate with the most name ID wins. In order to take on an incumbent that holds a high residual name ID, you must first get enough exposure to match his name ID within a district. ONLY after you are at name ID parity can you really distinguish yourself on the issues.
Before you go any further, you MUST understand the import of this: if you don’t have name ID parity, then your issues don’t matter because you cannot get them out to enough of the voters to overcome the name ID advantage that the incumbent already has on you.
2. Money. Donors want to see results, and few people want to throw money at a losing cause. The incumbent has something you do not have: a history of winning elections. He will get donations because he’s an elected official. How will you get donations? I will tell you plainly that unless and/or until you have $50K in your campaign account, no serious “investor” will give you a dime. It’s politics 101. Before somebody invests in an unknown, they at least have to see that you know how to raise money.
3. Constituent services. Half a congresscritter’s job is constituent services and most do an outstanding job of it. This is where issues don’t matter. “My congressman is a great guy,” is a true statement for 30% of your district, or more. Why? Because his office helped me get through the red tape at the VA, or helped grandma get her SS check fixed. Or, on a larger scale, he brought a senior center to the district, or got a new highway built, or etc. etc. There’s a large number of primary voters that have directly benefited from his term in office. Indeed, that’s the whole reason some voters ARE primary voters in your race: to give back to the great guy that did wonderful things for that person, personally.
There’s a reason why 90+ percent of incumbents get re-elected. I’m not trying to discourage you from running, but you need a realistic idea of what you’re facing.
I’ll post another post with more.
Distribution 73.07% urban, 26.93% rural
Population (2000) 585,305[1]
Median income $43,176[1]
Ethnicity 91.6% White, 3.2% Black, 1.9% Asian,
3.2% Hispanic, 0.4% Native American