How to Run for Representative of Congress in California
- 1). Contact the California Secretary of State (SOS). Inform a Board of Elections (BOE) administrator -- overseen by the SOS -- of your intention to run for Congress and ask for all paperwork associated with proper filing. A candidate must file paperwork with the BOE to make his run official. Ask the administrator for supplemental information -- such as ballot designation worksheets and special election calendars and petition deadline documents -- to stay informed of all pertinent initiatives and dates associated with your race. Communicate with the SOS at: 1500 11th Street, Sacramento, California 95814 or 916-653-6814.
- 2). Reach out to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Inform FEC administrators of your intention to run and ask for all necessary paperwork regarding financial disclosures. Running for Congress demands that you open up all personal financial records to public scrutiny. Additionally, congressional campaigns are subjected to quarterly filing deadlines -- where campaigns must disclose campaign account and financial record information. Contact the FEC at: 999 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20463 or 800-424-9530.
- 3). Build your campaign staff. Designate at least four key positions: campaign manager, deputy campaign manager, community outreach coordinator and treasurer. Campaign managers and deputy managers oversee all operational and political consultation needs on a day-to-day basis. Community outreach coordinators handle volunteers and building relationships with district organizations and businesses. The treasurer is responsible for handling campaign accounts and maintaining all filing deadlines with the FEC. Campaign staff may work on a paid or volunteer basis.
- 4). Begin your race. Learn the boundaries of your congressional district with district maps. District maps are available from your local BOE. Petition to get your name on the ballot. Ask your local BOE representative how many names you need from registered voters in your district to get on the election ballot. Reach out to voters throughout the district. Knock on doors with volunteers and ask citizens what their wants and needs are for the community. Use community feedback to build your campaign platform.
- 5). Build momentum. Organize lists of volunteers and potential volunteers. Coordinate phone banks to raise funds and ask for volunteer help. Hand out brochures stating your platform agenda -- positions on political issues -- and contact information so voters know where you stand on issues and how they can get involved with the race. Distribute yard signs, bumper stickers and palm cards -- cardboard flyers -- to citizens and voters to boost your name recognition and catapult you to success.
