Do any of your Dem state parties have a "mentorship" program for new candidates?(Crosspost from GD)

[berniesandersmittens]

Do any of your Dem state parties have a "mentorship" program for new candidates?

Or do any of your sitting/former Dem reps meet with any new candidates who have no political experience? I know that reps attend campaign fundraisers and events, but don't know of any mentorship behind the scenes. Not sure mentorship is the right term to use.

I have a very good friend running for State Senator and am helping with her campaign. I plan on reaching out to the state party after the holidays.

I'm embarrassingly inexperienced and thought it would be a good idea for my friend to meet with someone who has been in her shoes.

Forgive me if this should be common knowledge here. Mama said the only question that's bad is one not asked.


Edit to add: This is deep red country, but the local party has worked hard to get Dems on the ballot. It's a longshot race, but my friend is amazing and I want to help her out in any way I can. She is an Air Force vet, has her PhD, and is a high school biology teacher.

Edit 2: please DU message me with any suggestions that you may not post here. I may not be very knowledgeable in campaigning logistics, but over the last 17 years on DU, I have learned SO much from you folks. I am committed to helping at the ground level.

[UpInArms]

1. Missouri has

Camp Carnahan

[berniesandersmittens]

3. Thank you

Will check this out. If my state does not have anything similar, (local party hasn't mentioned it) then I will suggest this.

Grass roots!

[UpInArms]

5. Here's a link

https://demcastusa.com/2024/01/26/come-join-us-at-the-camp-carnahan-campaign-training-program/

[Silent Type]

2. I would think most do. And if I were a candidate, I'd talk to mentors. And there are thousands of campaign consultants,

but they are expensive.

Good luck to your friend.

[berniesandersmittens]

4. Thanks

Last edited Mon Dec 22, 2025, 07:31 PM - Edit history (1)

We're meeting tomorrow to brainstorm. This campaign is green and I want to utilize every resource that we can.

[mtngirl47]

6. Great to hear you and your friend are jumping in!

My Democratic County party has workshops to help people who want to run for county offices. We help with forms and filing with the Board of Elections. We make recommendations for outreach to local organizations, advertising, and we help with "stump" speeches. We can only "advise" during the primary phase if there are two or more Democrats running. After the primary we do everything we can to help the candidate get elected.

For a state office the District Democratic Party helps if they're well organized. Your friend's senate seat probably covers more than one county. And, of course, the state will also help with advice. Our state has a great "advertising department" that will help with campaign material design.

Your friend will need to have a campaign "treasurer" as soon as possible. This is the most important position to make sure that they are in compliance with campaign finance laws. (Republicans like to cheat but they also like to go over Democrat's paperwork with a fine tooth comb to try and disqualify us!)

Retired politicians are always happy to talk about their glory days! Call them up, ask them for coffee to pick their brains! But remember---EVERYTHING in politics has changed! Statesmanship is gone. Being in deep red country, you know that intellectualism is disdained. There is a great book, "Hit 'Em Where It Hurts," by Rachel Bitecofer that is a must read for any politician or consultant in this era. She has great ideas about how to turn Republican tactics against them.

I recommend that you start with the legal aspects. Make sure all the requirements are met.
Then come up with the message---keep it short. Make it local. Don't run against Trump, run FOR something that is important to the people of your area. Be realistic on the message. Your friend cannot make things more affordable, and they can't pass gun control. That being said, they will be asked their opinion on all of those issues, so they should be prepared with their positions on everything!

Get a web page and facebook page for the campaign as soon as possible. Don't put the year in your print advertising (when your friend wins they will want to reuse the materials in 2 years!) I recommend that you use a local printer instead of vista print.... it shows that you support the community. Very inexpensive and very effective advertising is facebook and google ads that are targeted to the voters in your area.

Good luck on the upcoming adventure! (PS always loved your user name)

[mtngirl47]

7. College Interns are your friends!

I forgot the best resource we have in our area is young college dems who are studying Political Science. They have to do internships for their degree and they are always eager to get involved in campaigns. They will put out signs and door knock and phone bank.