What do you do if you lose your political campaign?
If you are a Democrat running for office, working on a political campaign, or a voter, Tuesday will bring big wins, close calls, and some not-so-close losses. Sure, there will be some memorable wins, but there might also be some devastating losses. So, what do you do now?
You have spent months running for office or managing a political campaign, and now the political campaign is over. Even though you worked your butt off, you fell short.
Here are some tips for candidates and campaign managers from those of us who have been through many political campaigns and know it is not easy.
Don’t feel bad, at least not for long. Most people who think about running for office never do it. We know it hurts, but more candidates lose than win. It’s just the name of the game. Especially if you are a first-time candidate or running to unseat an incumbent. It’s not easy, but be proud of what you’ve accomplished and built in your community throughout your campaign. Enjoy the fun you did have and if you didn’t have any, maybe that’s a sign for the future.
Thank Folks. You may lose, but that doesn't mean people didn't work hard for your campaign. Make sure you take the time to call, email, and personally thank volunteers, endorsers, donors, and your friends and family. Especially if you’re planning to run again.
Be Gracious. Don't be the candidate who brings everyone down with them after the campaign ends. A candidate’s reaction to losing can often be a bigger indicator of whether they can do something in the future than the race's outcome. You have a lot of folks who supported you, and you owe it to them and yourself to handle this respectfully.
Pay Your Debts: Hopefully you won't have any debts, but if you do, develop a plan to pay them off quickly. Don't wait on this. The circle of campaign operatives is small and they talk to each other. So don’t get a bad rap by stiffing your staff or consultants.
Take Stock of Your Assets: What does the campaign leave in its wake? The answer often includes major assets for future runs: relationships, voter and community data, campaign material, and, most importantly, the energy and participation you inspired. Make sure you organize everything you have so it's accounted for and ready for whatever comes next.
Find and Secure All of Your Lists: The list of volunteers, donors, IDs, sign locations, etc., all have value. Decide what happens to these assets, and don't let a well-meaning volunteer copy them and give them to another campaign. You need to decide how these items are best used. You don’t want to be the reason your people’s information ends up in the wrong hands.
Take Down Your Signs: Campaign yard signs that never get picked up annoy people. Your political campaign can also get fined real money. Make sure you have a plan to pick up your signs and get them off the street.
Talk to Your Lawyer Before You Delete Files: Understand which files you need to keep and which you can destroy. Put files on a secure portable drive and a second backup.
Recycle: Make sure you recycle all your paper, lit, signs, wood posts, etc., that you won't use again. Give your desks, office supplies, and scrubbed computers away to folks who need them, like community centers or nonprofits. Trust me, they will appreciate it.
Analyze your race once: Sit down, look at the numbers, talk to your staff, then write down why you think you lost. Write down the answers and put them away for a while. Don't make this a protracted process. In the end, it will not help you win the race you just lost, and in most cases, your next race will have very different dynamics. Analyze it quickly, learn what you can, and then move on.
Don't Play the Blame Game: You, your staff, your consultants, the weather, daylight saving time, and the boogeyman may all share equal blame in your political campaign's loss, but it is not productive to take it out on them (or yourself, for that matter). Be the bigger person and be gracious. It is okay to ask constructive questions and be thoughtful about the race, but it is not okay to say that you would have won if it wasn't for the lime green color of one direct mail piece.
Help Staff Find Work: Before you think of your next move, remember that your campaign staff busted their butts to help you win and now they are scrambling to find work. Help them, and it will pay off later.
Don't Ghost Your Community: You just spent several months talking to, getting to know, and inspiring your community: get involved. Maybe even for the first time. Don’t throw that away by walking away from what you’ve built. Again, how you treat people after a loss is not just about you; it’s about the community you wanted to serve. In that vein, do not hide from the community once the race is over. Stay involved. Don't forget why you ran in the first place.
Get Professional Help: If you find yourself unable to leave your home or relate to folks after a campaign, you may be suffering from depression. This can be serious and is more common than you may think. You and your family went through a high-stress situation, and the outcome was not what you wanted. If you can't get past it, seek professional help.
Remember The Good Stuff: Remember the folks who really were there for you. Every political campaign leaves you with unique and special relationships, mostly good ones. Folks you meet working on a political campaign bond in a “been through the trenches” way. Remember what they taught you, what you got through, and the laughs you shared along the way. Cherish these relationships.
Okay, Now You Can Think About Your Next Move: Will you run again? Most candidates lose before they win. Will you go back to what you did before? Have other doors opened that you had not thought of before? You can answer these questions in due time, so don’t rush to an answer before you’re ready.
Take some time. Rest up and reflect on how we can all work together to make our communities better.
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