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“Exploring Your Run” 2026 Edition Is Here
The 2026 edition of Exploring Your Run for Municipal Office is live! Fully updated with new resources, a chapter on protecting your peace, bonus audio, and worksheets to help you explore your run with confidence.
Explore Your Run
It’s time to figure out whether or not you’re ready to run for office.
It’s time to figure out whether you’re ready to run for office — and the 2026 edition of Exploring Your Run for Municipal Office is finally here.
This fully updated workbook is designed for anyone who’s ever thought: “Could I run municipally — and what would it actually take?” It’s a step-by-step guide to exploring the decision to run, helping you get clarity, build confidence, and plan ahead without pressure.
Everything you need to explore your run, make confident decisions, and prepare for a successful campaign — all in one digital workbook.
Running for municipal office is exciting, meaningful, and yes — a little intimidating. That’s why I created this workbook: to help you explore the possibility, ask the right questions, and get organized before making any big commitments.
The 2026 edition is fully updated, with clearer guidance, new resources, and a brand-new chapter on protecting your peace — because running for office is serious work, and you deserve to feel good doing it.
What’s Inside:
Updated Guidance: Refreshed examples, links, and resources relevant to 2026.
New Chapter: Protecting your peace, including a worksheet to help you set healthy boundaries.
Bonus Audio: A reworked workshop in audio format, perfect for listening on the go.
Clear Explanations: Simplified, step-by-step guidance to take the guesswork out of early campaign decisions.
Practical Worksheets: Define your mission, map your community, and build your campaign team.
Why This Workbook Works:
Helps you make a confident decision to run
Breaks down complex campaign steps into simple, actionable exercises
Created by Amanda Kingsley Malo — educator, campaign veteran, and your personal guide through local politics
Format:
30+-page PDF
Instant download
Works on computer, tablet, or phone
What’s new in 2026:
The workbook is 33 pages of practical guidance designed to make exploring your run feel achievable and structured, not overwhelming.
What you will get in this resource:
Updated links and resources relevant for the 2026 municipal cycle
Improved explanations and tighter language
A brand-new chapter on protecting your peace, with a worksheet to help set boundaries
A bonus audio resource: a reworked workshop you can listen to anywhere
Expanded worksheets to help you define your mission, research your community, and map your campaign team
“I tell everyone who says they want to run that they need this workbook.” - a real politician
If you’ve already purchased the 2022 edition, you’ll get the full 2026 update for free — just shoot us an email for your special code.
This workbook is for you if you’ve ever dreamed of running for office but:
didn’t know where to start.
weren’t sure if you were ready.
felt like you needed to do some introspective to make sure that this is the next step.
This workbook was created by our founder, Amanda Kingsley Malo, drawing on over a decade of experience running campaigns and supporting candidates. It’s the resource she wishes she’d had when she first considered running and now it’s available to anyone thinking about taking the next step.
We want you to be ready to run and win.
Your Campaign Success Roadmap Freebie
Running for office? Download our free Campaign Success Roadmap to learn the 12 essential steps you need to take to win your election.
Ready to Run? Follow These 12 Actionable Steps to a Winning Campaign
Running for office is an exciting and challenging journey—but success doesn’t happen by accident.
To win, you need a clear strategy, a strong message, and a well-organized campaign. That’s why we created Your Campaign Success Roadmap—a step-by-step list that will help you navigate your campaign with confidence.
This free PDF resource outlines 12 essential steps every candidate must take to build a winning campaign. Whether you’re running for municipal council, school board trustee, or any other elected position, this guide will set you on the right path.
This product is for you if …
First-time candidates who need a clear roadmap for success.
Campaign teams looking to streamline their strategy.
Community leaders preparing for future elections.
Anyone who wants to run an organized and effective campaign.
If you like this resource, don’t forget to check out our others:
Build Your Future Campaign Freebie
Thinking about running for office? Download our free checklist with 22 actionable steps to help you build your campaign foundation—even years before the election.
Thinking About Running for Office? Start Preparing Now!
You’ve decided that running for office is in your future—but where do you start?
Whether you’re fully committed or just exploring the idea, building a strong foundation before the election cycle begins can set you up for success. That’s why we’ve put together a simple, actionable list of 22 things you can do right now to establish your name, build connections, and prepare for a campaign—even if your run is still years away.
This straightforward PDF guide gives you practical, real-world steps to help you:
Increase your visibility in your community.
Build relationships with key supporters, organizations, and stakeholders.
Strengthen your leadership skills and political knowledge.
Develop a strategic plan so you’re not scrambling when the time comes.
This product is for you if …
Anyone considering running for office in the future.
First-time candidates who want to lay the groundwork early.
Individuals who want to become more politically engaged and build their network.
Future campaigners looking for a structured way to start preparing.
If you like this resource, don’t forget to check out our others:
Social Media Calendar Template Freebie
Stay organized and consistent with our free social media content calendar template—customizable, easy to use, and designed for winning campaigns.
Take the Guesswork Out of Social Media — Stay Organized & On Message
A strong social media strategy can be the difference between a campaign that connects with voters and one that gets lost in the noise. But keeping track of what to post, when to post, and where to post can be overwhelming.
That’s why we’ve created a plug-and-play social media content calendar designed to help you stay organized, consistent, and on message throughout your campaign.
With this free Google Sheet template, you’ll get:
Pre-formatted content slots for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, email campaigns, and your website.
A customizable, adaptable layout that works for any campaign—just copy, edit, and start planning.
A centralized system to keep your team aligned and ensure no post gets forgotten.
An easy-to-use format in Google Sheets, so you can collaborate in real time with your campaign team.
This product is for you if …
You’re running a campaign and need a structured way to plan social media content.
You want to stay consistent across multiple platforms without stress.
Your campaign team needs a shared, easy-to-use content calendar.
You’re new to social media strategy and need a ready-made starting point.
You want to save time and focus on connecting with voters instead of scrambling for last-minute posts.
If you like this resource, don’t forget to check out our others:
Plan a Campaign Event Freebie
Get two free campaign event planning checklists—covering best practices and a step-by-step guide. Plan an engaging, successful event with confidence!
Boost Support and Connect with Voters
A great campaign event can energize supporters, increase visibility, and strengthen voter connections—but where do you start?
To take the guesswork out of event planning, we’ve created two essential resources that will help you organize and execute a fantastic, fun, and engaging campaign event with confidence.
In this freebie, you’ll get:
✅ Best Practices Checklist – An overview of the do’s and don’ts of campaign event planning, including expert tips for maximizing impact.
✅ Step-by-Step Event Planning Guide – A structured checklist that outlines everything you need to plan and execute a successful campaign event.
Whether you’re organizing a meet-and-greet, town hall, fundraiser, or rally, this comprehensive toolkit will ensure that your event is well-organized, engaging, and effective in reaching voters.
This product is for you if …
You’re running for municipal office and want to host a great campaign event.
You need clear, actionable steps to make planning easier and stress-free.
You want to maximize turnout and create an event that resonates with voters.
You’re new to campaign event planning and need guidance on what works best.
You want to avoid common mistakes and ensure your event runs smoothly.
If you like this resource, don’t forget to check out our others:
Campaign Fundamentals for Women Candidates Webinar
Access four expert-led webinars covering campaign strategy, fundraising, and outreach—designed for women running for council or school board. Watch for free!
Learn Campaign Essentials from Our Expert-Led Webinar Series
Running for municipal office can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to figure it out alone! During the 2018 municipal election, we hosted a series of expert-led webinars to teach women the fundamentals of running a successful campaign. Now, we’re making these recordings available for free—so you can learn at your own pace!
This four-part webinar series covers the key aspects of local campaigns, from strategy to fundraising, to help women candidates and their teams run impactful, well-organized campaigns.
What You’ll Learn:
How to build a strong campaign strategy tailored to municipal elections.
Fundraising fundamentals from special guest experts.
Key tools and tactics to maximize voter outreach.
Tips for volunteers supporting a local campaign.
These one-hour sessions provide real-world insights and actionable advice for women stepping into leadership roles. Whether you're running for council, school board trustee, or supporting a candidate, this series is designed to set you up for success.
This product is for you if …
You’re a woman running for local office and need practical campaign guidance.
You want expert insights on fundraising, outreach, and campaign strategy.
You’re volunteering on a campaign and want to support effectively.
You prefer self-paced learning and on-demand access to campaign knowledge.
You want a strong foundation to build an impactful and organized campaign.