The Oklahoma Democratic Party is committed to participating in the 2024 Local Elections Project by completing the following activities:

  • Provide a point of contact for the project
  • Expand training and resources
  • Identify positions to target in the 2024 elections
  • Recruit candidates for identified positions
  • Support fundraising resources and activities
  • Stress the winning value of Data and using VAN (Voter Activation Network)
  • Encourage candidates to attend partnership training by the Oklahoma Democratic Party.
Running for office requires a variety of skills not typically utilized in everyday life and requires thorough consideration due to the labor intensive commitment to both yourself and your family. Campaigning is also time consuming and costly (knocking doors, messaging, fundraising, attending local events, and traveling your district/state). But if you take crucial steps in setting up your strategy, you can minimize first-time nuisances when you announce and begin the journey.
  • Consider the position you would like to run for and how important it is to you and the skills you will bring to the office and position.
  • What are the requirements for the chosen position?
  • Understand that the sooner you begin the better opportunity you have to fundraise and build your strategy.
  • Be prepared to spend a lot of your time in the public eye. It is important to uphold ethical and moral standards as a representative of your community and to meet your constituents face-to-face.
  • Address past history issues that your opponent could dig up and use against you during campaigning
  • What is your background, education, occupation and experience that your constituents will use to vet your qualifications?
  • What is your budget? How much money will you need to run your campaign and how much will you need to fundraise? Understand that most of your time will be spent raising a considerable amount of funding in order to run your campaign and pay for well needed resources.
  • How will you setup your campaign team from Campaign Manager, Finance Director, Media to Volunteers?
  • What do you know about your opponent?
  • You will want to practice your debating public speaking skills.
  • Be prepared and willing to invest in hiring a professional campaign manager and/or work with a professional political consulting firm.
  • Work with a campaign team on developing your campaign slogan and message.
The following organizations help train first-time candidates on the ins and outs of running for office and campaigning.
What the Party Can & Can’t Do
The Party Can:
  • Connect you with a Democratic campaign consultant
  • Provide access to data (VAN) for a fee
  • Provide you with the Party’s current talking points
  • Provide you with a list of upcoming events
  • Provide you with a list of resources
  • Put you in contact with local Democratic Party leaders
The Party Can’t:
  • Endorse candidates in a primary (we must remain neutral)
  • Help you fundraise
  • Give you access to data for free
  • Donate to your campaign
  • Design your walkcard, or other marketing materials
  • Create/Print canvass turf lists