How to Choose Your Political Consultant

Building Your Campaign Team, Part 2

Running a political campaign is no easy feat, especially a successful one. The world of politics is complex, unpredictable, and confusing. The electoral system is designed to maintain the status quo and keep the people most negatively impacted by policy out of politics. That’s why adding the right people to your team is crucial. If chosen correctly, talented consultants and campaign staffers can give you the tools to make the change your community needs.

In the first part of this series, we covered the main categories of campaign consultants and their specializations. Thankfully, most candidates do not need every type of consultant to run a successful campaign. Today, we will explore what you should consider while choosing which consultants are the best fit for your campaign.

Before deciding which services your campaign could use, ask yourself the following questions:

1. What is your desired budget?
2. What kind of experience do you have? Have you campaigned before, either for yourself or someone else?
3. What is important to you in a working relationship?
4. What does your team look like right now? Do you have a kitchen cabinet? Reliable volunteers? What services are missing or need to be handled by a professional?

Considerations for Deciding Which Services You Need

Whether you’re running for School Board or President, every campaign needs the same basic elements in order to win:

• Fundraising
• Messaging and Media Relations
• Voter Outreach
• Paid Communications

While all of these services can be fulfilled by a staff member who works directly for the campaign, it is crucial to recognize which tasks will cost your campaign more mental energy and time than they are worth or prevent other vital tasks from getting done effectively.

If staffers who are meant to be knocking doors and calling voters are getting bogged down in cutting turf and creating phone banks, it’s time to hire a General or Field Consultant. If you are spending most of your call time sessions sorting through follow up emails and entering data instead of actually talking to donors, it’s time to contact a Fundraising Consultant.

Picking the Right Consultant or Firm

When hiring a consultant of any kind you are not only hiring a service but also a member, and very often a leader, of your team. Consider the following tips when deciding which firms and consultants are the right fit for you:

1. Research: Conduct thorough research on potential consultants. Look for candidates with a proven track record of success and demonstrated expertise, and don’t be afraid to ask for references.
2. Compatibility: Ensure that the consultant is compatible with your personality, values, and campaign goals.
3. Communication: Similar to compatibility, communication is oftentimes not prioritized. Look for a consultant who is willing to listen to your ideas and work collaboratively towards achieving your vision and goals.
4. Budget: Make sure to pick a consultant that fits within your campaign budget — or make sure the consultant has a realistic plan for raising towards a higher budget.

Running for office is never going to be easy, but it doesn’t have to be inaccessible, confusing, or full of busy work. With the right people on your team, you can focus on what matters most: talking to voters directly and getting your message out.

This piece was written by: Mari Latibashvili and Sophia Kittell. Mari is the Vice President of Campaigns & Political Affairs at Evinco Strategies, where she leads the General Consulting Department, oversees all other political departments alongside the President, and leads company-wide strategic planning work. Sophia is a Campaign Coordinator at Evinco Strategies where she supports all political departments and our Strategic Partners program. Sophia is a community college transfer student at University of California, San Diego.

If you have questions about building your team, reach out for a free consultation at https://go.oncehub.com/FreeConsultwMari.