Every two years, thousands of campaigns are organized nationwide to elect candidates or pass ballot initiatives. Campaigns range in size from a few volunteers to large operations employing paid staff and consultants.
Depending on the type of office, campaigns can be brief or span years, with the duration and scale of a campaign largely dictated by the electoral calendar. Most federal offices are up for election in even-numbered years, while state legislative seats and local offices, such as city councilmembers and mayors, are typically up in odd-numbered years. Congressional campaigns tend to be the most structured and overseen, with their own national and state committees. Campaigns for executive branch positions, such as governor or state attorney general, are more decentralized and less formalized.
As part of the campaign, a candidate must communicate a message that resonates with voters. This is typically done by utilizing a variety of mediums including television, radio, print ads and social media. The message must be both broad enough to appeal to a wide group of voters and specific enough to identify a core group that is the target audience for the campaign.
Many new graduates take on a role in a political campaign as an opportunity to develop and refine a broad array of skills in a fast-paced and flexible environment, as well as to gain exposure to the cares and concerns of elected officials and the American public. Although the compensation for most entry-level jobs on a campaign is relatively modest, some positions may offer the chance to advance into more substantive legal work as a result of early success and senior staff trust.