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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:
Campaigning in the Digital Age
Master the digital landscape of municipal elections! From crafting an authentic online persona to leveraging social media, DIY graphic design, and the power of email, this guide unveils a tactical arsenal for success. Success in the digital age is within reach—navigate the online battlefield and propel your campaign forward with strategic planning and authenticity.
Navigating the Online Landscape for Election Triumph
Welcome to the digital battleground of municipal elections, where the endless symphony of online noise can either drown you out or catapult your campaign to victory. In this whirlwind of pixels and hashtags, we get it – budgets are tight, resources are scarce, and the thought of navigating the vast digital realm can feel like trying to find a needle in a virtual haystack.
We're here as your digital compass, unveiling not just tools but a tactical arsenal of tips and tricks to turn your digital campaign into a resounding triumph.
craft your digital persona
Your online presence is the canvas of your campaign. Paint it with authenticity, passion, and dedication. Let voters see the person behind the politician. Share your journey in a way that resonates, cultivating a digital persona that's not just about politics but reflects your values, making you relatable to constituents.
leverage social media
Social media is your trusty sidekick, even on a shoestring budget. Choose platforms wisely, ones that resonate with your audience. Engage your community with realness – not just with polished posts but through behind-the-scenes glimpses and genuine interactions. Remember, it's not about the number of followers but the quality of connections you build.
dIY Graphic Design
Graphics are pivotal in the digital battleground. Don't fret about lacking a design degree; embrace accessible tools like Canva or Adobe Spark. Thanks to templates and user-friendly interfaces, even if your design skills currently lean more towards stick figures than Picasso, you can effortlessly create visuals that powerfully amplify your campaign's message. Moreover, it aids in maintaining a consistent brand tone, ensuring your message remains recognizable to all your followers—and the broader community!
master the email game
In the realm of digital campaign strategies, emails remain an unsung hero, quietly but powerfully delivering your message directly to your constituents' inboxes. Think of your email list as a treasure chest, one you're not just filling but curating strategically. While social media helps you connect, the email list is the lifeline you get to keep, even if the social media landscape changes overnight.
Consider this: if the social media platforms we rely on today vanished tomorrow, how would you maintain a direct line to your constituents? Here's where your email list steps in as a crucial asset. Unlike social media, where algorithms and trends can shift unpredictably, your email list provides stability and ownership. It's a direct communication channel that remains under your control, offering a dependable means to reach your audience, no matter the digital tides. So, as you build your email list, you're not just accumulating contacts; you're fostering a resilient community and securing your ability to connect authentically, even in the face of digital uncertainties.
host virtual town halls
With limited capacity for in-person events, take your campaign to the digital town hall. Platforms like Zoom or Facebook Live allow you to engage with voters, address concerns, and present your platform. Schedule these events strategically, providing an accessible and intimate forum for interaction.
use community-centric blogging
Blogging isn't just for the tech-savvy. Establish a simple blog on your campaign website, sharing insights, updates, and your vision for the community. It's a powerful yet cost-effective way to position yourself as a thought leader and keep constituents informed.
use tools for campaign analytics
Even with limited resources, harness the power of data. Utilize free or affordable analytics tools to track the performance of your online efforts. Understand what resonates with your audience, refine your strategy accordingly, and make informed decisions to optimize your digital campaign.
ensure you have a flexible digital strategy
Flexibility is key in the digital age. Regularly assess your digital strategy's performance, adapt to emerging trends, and refine your approach based on what resonates with your audience. Embrace a dynamic online presence that evolves with the changing landscape of digital politics.
Digital Triumph on a Limited Budget
In the digital age, success is not reserved for those with hefty budgets. With strategic planning, authenticity, and a willingness to adapt, you can maximize online platforms to propel your campaign forward. Your limited funds and capacity need not be limitations – consider them opportunities to craft a digital campaign that's not just impactful but also uniquely yours.
Onward, towards a victorious digital campaign!
TL;DR
From crafting an authentic online persona to leveraging social media, DIY graphic design, mastering the power of email, and hosting virtual town halls, this blog unravels a tactical arsenal for success. Embrace community-centric blogging, use data-driven campaign analytics, and ensure a flexible digital strategy. Success in the digital age is within reach, even with limited resources—navigate the online battlefield and propel your campaign forward with strategic planning and authenticity.— More Resources —
Unlock Your Political Potential
Empower your political journey with our curated resources designed to elevate women in municipal politics.
Building a Strong Campaign Team
A strong team is essential for a successful municipal election campaign. Each member plays a crucial role, from advocates to strategic thinkers and communicators. Assemble a winning team to support, guide, and empower you on your journey to victory.
Uniting Forces for Campaign Success
Elections are vital for the functioning of any democratic society, and municipal elections are no exception. As candidates gear up for these crucial contests, one thing becomes abundantly clear: a strong campaign team is the backbone of a successful campaign. The assembled team supports, guides, and propels the candidate toward victory. This blog post will delve into the significance of building a strong campaign team for municipal elections and explore the key elements that contribute to success.
Why is a Strong Campaign Team Essential?
Running a political campaign at the municipal level is challenging. A single person cannot accomplish all the necessary work alone. A strong campaign team brings together diverse skills, experience, and perspectives that complement each other. Here are a few reasons why a strong campaign team is essential:
Dividing responsibilities within a campaign team allows for more manageable workloads. Team members can focus on their areas of expertise, such as fundraising, canvassing, communications, and strategy, ensuring the campaign runs efficiently.
A successful campaign team comprises diverse backgrounds, knowledge, and experience. Their collective expertise provides valuable insights, strategic thinking, and innovative ideas that improve the overall campaign strategy.
A good campaign team is crucial for a candidate's mental and emotional well-being during the demanding election process.
Campaign teams are crucial in expanding a candidate's reach and engaging with influential stakeholders through their networks. They also help cultivate strong community partnerships.
A strong campaign team is essential to the success of a campaign. They should coordinate activities efficiently, manage finances, and schedule events.
Key People on a Strong Campaign Team
When it comes to building a successful team, it's crucial to have members who are skilled and knowledgeable, passionate advocates for the cause, and dedicated to the candidate. These individuals bring enthusiasm and commitment to the table that can make all the difference in achieving goals and driving results. With their unwavering dedication and genuine passion for the cause, effective team members are essential to the success of any project or initiative.
Here are some people that every campaign could use on their squad:
Passionate Advocates
A strong campaign team comprises passionate advocates for the cause and the candidate. They genuinely believe in the vision and values of the campaign and are dedicated to making a positive impact in their community. Their passion is contagious and motivates others to join and support the campaign.
Strategic Thinkers
Effective campaign teams include strategic thinkers who can analyze complex situations, identify opportunities, and develop innovative strategies. They possess critical thinking skills and can navigate the challenges of a campaign with creativity and foresight. These individuals bring fresh perspectives and contribute to the overall campaign strategy.
Excellent Communicators
Strong communication skills are essential for team members interacting with the public, stakeholders, and the media. They can articulate the campaign's message clearly and effectively, engage with diverse audiences, and build meaningful connections. Their ability to listen, empathize, and communicate builds trust and credibility for the campaign.
Community Connectors
Building relationships and connecting with the community is vital for a successful campaign. Team members with deep roots and strong connections within the community can engage voters, mobilize support, and cultivate partnerships. Their knowledge of local issues and community dynamics allows them to tailor campaign efforts effectively.
Organized Managers
Campaigns require meticulous planning, organization, and coordination. Having team members with strong organizational skills ensures that tasks are executed efficiently, timelines are met, and resources are effectively managed. They keep the campaign running smoothly, allowing the candidate to focus on their responsibilities.
Resilient Problem-Solvers
Campaigns often face unexpected challenges and setbacks. Resilient team members can adapt to changing circumstances, think on their feet, and find creative solutions to overcome obstacles. Their positive attitude, perseverance, and problem-solving abilities keep the campaign resilient and focused on the ultimate goal.
Empowering Mentors
A strong campaign team includes experienced individuals who can serve as mentors and guides for newer members. They share their knowledge, provide support, and help develop the skills of others. These mentors foster a collaborative and nurturing environment that encourages personal and professional growth within the team.
Energizing Collaborators
Collaboration is key to a successful campaign. Team members who excel at collaboration can work effectively with others, foster teamwork, and leverage each other's strengths. They value diverse perspectives and actively seek input from team members, ensuring that decisions are well-informed and inclusive.
TL;DR
A robust campaign team is pivotal for success in municipal elections. The team's diversity and expertise lead to efficient workload distribution, strategic brilliance, and emotional support for the candidate. Passionate advocates, strategic thinkers, adept communicators, community connectors, organized managers, resilient problem-solvers, empowering mentors, and energizing collaborators form a dynamic team, enhancing engagement and outreach. Their collective dedication propels the campaign forward, fostering community partnerships and ensuring a streamlined, impactful electoral journey.— continue on your learning journey —
Build a strong campaign team with united, passionate, and capable members who contribute unique talents and perspectives to make a positive difference in your community. Together, create a campaign that resonates with voters, inspires change, and leaves a lasting impact.
4 Confidence Boosting Strategies For First-Time Candidates
Are you a woman considering a run for municipal office? Don't let the challenges of campaigning deter you! In this post, we share essential tips for breaking through barriers and making your campaign a success, from building a strong support network to navigating gender bias in the political arena.
break barriers and build the relationships you need to make a run for office
Running for municipal office is no easy feat, especially for women. Despite making up over 50% of the population, women remain significantly underrepresented in political office at all levels of government. There are a variety of reasons for this, from systemic barriers to outright sexism and misogyny. But there are also strategies and tips that can help women overcome these challenges and pursue their political ambitions.
1. Build a Strong Support Network
Building a strong support network is essential for women running for municipal office. Here are some tips to achieve it:
Identify potential supporters early on and start building relationships with them.
Create an advisory board with experts in different areas to guide you throughout the campaign.
Utilize social media to connect with potential supporters and share updates about the campaign.
Seek out support from other women in politics, attend events and forums, and engage with women's political organizations in your area.
By implementing these strategies, women running for municipal office can establish a strong support network that can provide emotional, financial, and logistical support throughout the campaign. This network can be invaluable in ensuring success on the campaign trail and beyond.
Looking for other blog posts about planning your campaign? Check these out.
2. Seek Out Mentorship and Training Opportunities
There are plenty of organizations and programs out there that offer mentorship, training, and other resources to women who are considering running for office. Some examples include:
ElectHer Now, which is a nonpartisan organization that provides online training and support for women running for office. Their training modules cover a range of topics, including fundraising, campaign strategy, and public speaking. The program also offers one-on-one coaching and mentorship to help women navigate the challenges of running for office.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities' (FCM) Women in Local Government Program, which provides resources, research findings and funding opportunities to women seeking to develop their skills and knowledge in municipal politics.
The Canadian Women's Foundation, which offers a variety of resources and funding opportunities for women seeking to enter politics.
Equal Voice, a non-partisan group aims to promote the election of more women to all levels of government in Canada. They offer mentorship opportunities, training programs, and networking events to help women connect with other women in politics and develop the skills they need to succeed in elected positions.
And of course, you can always access our resources, which help women navigate the process of running for office. We’ve created helpful templates and a workbook that can guide you on your journey.
The PoliticsNOW workbook is designed to help women develop a campaign strategy and includes templates for things like budgeting, canvassing, and volunteer recruitment. The organization also offers online resources, webinars, and coaching sessions to help women build the skills they need to run a successful campaign.
By utilizing the resources offered by PoliticsNOW, women considering running for municipal office can develop a comprehensive campaign strategy and gain the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Whether you're a first-time candidate or a seasoned campaigner, seeking out the resources and mentorship available through organizations like PoliticsNOW can be an essential step towards success in municipal politics.
3. Create a Clear Campaign Plan and Messaging Strategy
Developing a clear plan and messaging strategy can help women stay on track and communicate effectively with voters. This means developing a platform that addresses the needs and concerns of your constituents, outlining a plan for fundraising and campaign events, and identifying the key issues and values that will guide your campaign messaging.
4. Connect with Other Women in Politics
Finally, it's important for women running for municipal office to connect with other women in politics. Women supporting women is a beautiful thing, and building connections with other women who are running for office or who have previously served in elected positions can be incredibly valuable. Attend events and forums specifically for women in politics, seek out mentorship and networking opportunities, and engage with women's political organizations in your area.
And if you’ve attended any of PoliticsNOW’s events, you’re invited to connect with other alumnae from our program on our Facebook group.
TL;DR
Running for municipal office can be a daunting task, but it's also incredibly rewarding. By building a strong support network, seeking out training and mentorship opportunities, creating a clear campaign plan and messaging strategy, and connecting with other women in politics, women can help ensure their success on the campaign trail. We need more women in municipal office to ensure that our communities are representative and equitable, and by taking these steps, women can help break down the barriers that prevent us from achieving that goal.— more learning —
If you're considering running for municipal office, start building your support network and developing your skills today. Check out our resources for aspiring candidates and sign up for our newsletter to stay informed and empowered on your journey to public service!
Planning Your Campaign By Phase
By understanding what phase your campaign is in, you’ll better be able to plan to win. Learn what those phases are, what the parts of campaigning entail, and start getting your campaign plan together.
What Are the Phases of a Campaign
What phase of the campaign are you in?
If you’ve ever done a really big campaign, you’ll know that the most effective way to plan it is to take your Big Day and then start planning backwards from it. This is why it’s so important to know a campaign's phases to ensure that you’re on track.
Most campaigns have phases that fall within the following categories:
Consideration.
This is you if: you’ve told yourself that you’re interested in running for office, but you’re not super committed yet, or you are still in the very early stages of exploring your run. And that’s okay! This will give you the chance to honestly figure out if you want to run or not. Make sure you talk through your fears and work through the barriers before diving in!
Exploration.
This is you if: you’ve started talking to people more seriously about running for office. You’re talking to people outside of your immediate circle — your connections, colleagues, community leaders and sometimes strangers — to start laying the groundwork and foundation for your run. You’ve begun recruiting members to your team and setting up your campaign.
Announcement.
This is you if: you’ve made it official, and now, you’re running!
Campaign.
This is you if: you’re in full campaign mode. You’re knocking on doors, you’re identifying votes, you’re getting donations, you’re posting on social media, you’re crafting policy ideas, and you’re connecting with voters in a variety of ways.
Election Day
This is you if: it’s the day itself! Make sure you go to Get Out the Vote (also known as GOTV).
Post-Election
This is you if: the election has passed and you are ready to wind down your campaign. You must ensure that you keep your campaign finances in order and get your legal reports to hand in before the deadline.
You’ll need to figure out where you are on that scale and start planning accordingly. To do that, you’ll want to ask yourself the following questions to help you come up with a simple plan:
How many days away is the Election?
How many voters do I need to ID by that date?
How many people should I speak to identify that many votes?
How am I going to speak to those people?
How much money will I need to make it happen?
Asking yourself these questions and knowing what phase of the campaign you’re in will allow you to know what you need to do by when. For example:
You know that you need 3000 votes to win the election and that you want to encourage 3500 people to go out and vote by Election Day. You know there's only 100 days until Election Day, so you'll need to identify approximately 2.8 voters per day.
What is your plan for doing that?
Will you canvass, or would you rather do a text bank? Could you cut down on canvass days if there’s a local festival and you set up a booth for a weekend?
How many volunteers will you need to accomplish this task?
How much money would you need to accomplish this task?
Going through these questions one by one, and knowing exactly what campaign phase you’re in, is going to give you the focus that you need to ensure that you make it to the finish line with the things that you need to actually win your campaign.
Looking for some extra support?
Grab one of our workbooks!
Our workbooks are your step-by-step approach to help you really dive into the fundamentals of a successful campaign, and are the thing that you absolutely need to help you run for office.
