The Campaign Workshop Blog

Cross a Name Off Your List with Our Holiday Book Gift Guide

It can be hard figuring out what to gift everyone for the holidays, but we’ve got your back. If your friends and family aren’t readers, we even have cookbooks for those looking for a less traditional read. In fact, there are options for all interests and ages. Our staff had some great recommendations for what to pick up for the folks you care about. And, hey, maybe pick up one for yourself while you’re at it! Check out our holiday book gift guide:  Biography/Memoir: A good look at a…

Prioritize Your Goals to Build an Effective Advocacy Campaign Online

A lot of groups and organizations come to us for advice on building an effective digital advocacy campaign on a limited budget. Our clients are tackling the issues that matter, from addressing our climate crisis to protecting women’s reproductive rights to advancing paid family leave polices. That said, dollars for digital advocacy don’t grow on trees. Our number one piece of advice for any organization that wants to make headway in engaging folks online is to prioritize your…

Take a Step Away from Your Desk This Holiday Season. 

Can you believe the holiday season is already upon us? Though we know you’re already gearing up for 2020, the 2019 election season has finally come to an end, and it’s time to take a deep breath before jumping back in. First, make sure you’ve taken the steps to end your campaign correctly. Then, kick back this holiday season with some tv shows and podcast recommendations from the participants in our 7…

Having an advocacy plan is critical to success, but where should you begin? Here are some topic areas you should be including in your plan.

In the ever-busy world of nonprofits, taking the time to develop an advocacy plan is often either quickly jotted down without real intentionality or not done at all. Organizations who put energy into writing a clear and comprehensive plan will tell you they are critical to success and long-term organizational growth. Now whether you’re a pro at advocacy plans or are writing your first one, this guide will…

If You’re Stressed about Politics or the Holidays, Why Not Try A TV Show?

Do you need to take a break from political content with a new TV show? Maybe you just finished working on a campaign or, like me, you work at a political consulting firm where politics is literally your job all the time. I am from Bethesda, where academic achievements and political discourse are our most hotly contested sports. After 29 years, I don’t have the emotional energy to get deeply involved in most political issues or candidates without carving out some time to…

Take Your Mind Off Politics With These Podcast Recommendations

If you’ve just come off of a political campaign, chances are you’ve spent the last few months consuming nothing but political content—from news to television to a podcast or two. After you’ve wrapped everything up, and shut down your campaign properly, maybe you need a break? With the holidays coming up, I’ve rounded up some of our favorite podcasts to keep you entertained during whatever…

Make the Most of the Earned Media You Have

With the changing local media landscape, it’s difficult for small and mid-sized campaigns to get covered by a local news outlet and generate earned media. The majority of the local media is busy covering national stories and continues to lose local political reporters. It’s an unfortunate fact in this day and age that many small or mid-sized campaigns just won’t get much earned media. This means that you really need to capitalize on the limited earned media you do get and work to get as much runway out…

Speechwriting and Storytelling with Author Kate Childs Graham

Kate Childs Graham is currently a principal at West Wing Writers but has long worked in the field of political speechwriting. She is the former communications director for US Senator Amy Klobuchar. She also wrote speeches for principals and surrogates during the Clinton-Kaine campaign and the 2016 Democratic National Convention.  In March, Childs Graham released her book, Why I Run: 35 Progressive…

Get to Know Peter Greenberger and His Take on Political News Coverage

Peter Greenberger is an experienced political consultant and media executive with a background working in government, on campaigns, and in digital media. Peter has served as Director of Congressional Correspondence in the White House during the Clinton Administration, the Global Director of News Partnerships at Twitter, and everything in between. Now, Peter Greenberger is the publisher of The Hill, where he is responsible for leading revenue efforts and driving commercial…

Your Campaign Has Ended, Kick Back with a Self-Care Cocktail

Self-care is a must after a grueling election cycle. Getting through Election Day is a huge accomplishment, but it takes a toll. Late nights, too much pizza, a prolonged, laser-like focus on work—it can leave you feeling drained, foggy and exhausted. Moral of the story, you deserve to kick back with a good book (or a great crossword, if you’re a nerd like me) and an even better drink in hand. Cocktail, mocktail or wine, the choice is yours, but the sentiment is the same: treat…

Social Media Strategy is Imperative in the Age of Digital Politics

Dr. Alan Rosenblatt is an expert in social media strategy. He is the Director of Digital Research for Lake Research Partners, a Partner and Lead Digital & Social Media Strategist at turner4D, and a Principal at Unfiltered.Media with 30 years of experience in the digital politics industry. He specializes in digital communications at the nexus of politics, advocacy, media, and education. Dr. Rosenblatt currently serves as an adjunct professor at the George Washington Graduate…

Run a Winning Campaign, Then Try These Self-Care Ideas

You’ve worked hard to run a strong campaign—now you can carve out some space for some post-election self-care ideas! If you work in the campaign world, I’m willing to bet you’re deeply acquainted with post-election burnout. While that fatigue may be more acute after presidential and mid-term elections, never discount the exhausting pace of state and local races. No matter the election year, type, or outcome, it’s crucial to take care of yourself after you take care of your campaign. We all…

Every First-Time Candidate Should Take a Political Campaign Training 

Here is the scoop on political campaign trainings: There are lots of decisions candidates need to make before they start a run for public office and a political campaign training can help provide some clarity for first time candidates. In our opinion, attending a political candidate and campaign training is a must for any potential candidates. Whether it is how to decide the best opportunity to pursue or how to create a contrast between you and your opponent, most folks need…

Bob Blaemire on His Book about Senator Birch Bayh, Birch Bayh: Making a Difference

Bob Blaemire began working for Senator Birch Bayh while a freshman in college and remained on his staff for the next 13 years. After Bayh's election defeat in 1980, Blaemire formed a political action committee, the Committee for American Principles, to combat the influence of the New Right in American politics. In 1982, he began a long career providing political computer services for Democratic candidates and progressive organizations. An early participant in…

Lessons and Favorite Posts from TCW’s Political and Advocacy Campaign Blog

In 2013, we started our political and advocacy campaign blog. The goal was to disseminate completely free information on campaign strategies and tactics to progressive political candidate and advocacy campaigns. And, most importantly, do it well. We wanted to help people win their campaigns at all levels of office regardless of how much money they had in the bank and whether they could afford our services of strategic consulting, direct mail or digital advertising. At…