Speaking with someone who is interested in running for legislative office? Use the questions below as a guide to evaluating their support for public education and their viability as a candidate. Candidates in the 2027 statewide election must qualify by February 1, 2027.
√ What are the potential candidate’s positions on important public education issues?
See The Parents’ Campaign Research & Education Fund’s candidate survey for questions to ask.
√ Will anything potentially embarrassing show up in opposition research?
Other candidates often do extensive research to find embarrassing information about an opponent, sometimes from years or decades before. This type of damaging information can derail an otherwise successful candidate.
√ Do a Google search on the potential candidate’s name. What comes up?
√ Ask the most prominent elected officials in your community what they think of your candidate.
Urge that they be candid, and promise to keep their feedback confidential. (Keep your promise of confidentiality!)
√ Are there offensive or potentially harmful posts on the candidate’s social media accounts?
√ Is the potential candidate well-connected?
√ Will he or she be able to raise the $20,000 to $50,000 needed for a successful state legislative campaign?
√ Is the potential candidate switching parties for this election, something that could be a turn-off to primary election voters?
√ Does the potential candidate have a big presence in the local community? Is the candidate well respected?
√ On what boards does the potential candidate serve?
√ Are the potential candidate’s children enrolled in or graduates of public schools?
