Candidate Training Information

On this page you will find some documents available for download which were either created in-house or provided by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC). Many other materials are available directly through the OSSD to candidates and allies which we are unable to publish online. Please contact OSSD staff to inquire about other training documents.

Additionally, the OSSD conducts frequent training sessions for candidates as well as their staff or key volunteers. Please contact OSSD staff for more information.

Training downloads

Campaign Vote Goal Worksheet -- This is a common tool used by professional campaign staff to establish vote goals and strategy. You will need to acquire your NCEC targeting file from OSSD staff, as well as compile relevent election results (available here), to complete your worksheet accurately.

Sample Campaign Budget -- Remember the mantra, "If it's not in the budget it's not real." Use your budget to make sure your fundraising progress meets your campaign's needs so you have the resources to compete through Election Day. Update it daily to manage cashflow and determine campaign spending priorities. Please be advised that the spreadsheet does contain some formulas that change contents in other cells. Also, please note that the amounts listed are only a starting off point -- you need to build a budget that is realistic to your means. The spreadsheet is just a useful tool for you to formalize and organize your budget.

Student Organizing Links

Several organizations have taken on the challenge of organizing young people, but many of the resources listed below are helpful to any candidate or activist.

Young People for...: YP4 has several downloadable training guides, called Little Black Books,availble on their resources page. Topics include: Coalition Building, Event Planning, and Media & Message.

Young Voter Strategies: Website with lots of information about targeting younger voters, including polling and training materials. Good website with campaign toolkits for voter mobilization, volunteer recruitment advice, and polling data on young voters. They also have an informative manual on starting a student campaign from scratch.

 

Training Links

Note: Links to websistes outside the www.oksenatedemocrats.com are not necessarily endorsed by the OSSD or its caucus members.

www.completecampaigns.com -- Database vendor that also provides training documents free of charge on a variety of subjects.

www.welstone.org -- Of particualar note is the "organizing corner" portion of their site, which provides basic training breifings on grassroots action that actually helps in campaigns.

More information

Wellstone Action -- Respected training and grassroots organizing group has an informative manual on how non-profits can engage in non-partisan voter engagement legally and effectively.