A practical guide to running for local office in Canada.

Before you announce

Decide if you’re really doing this

Running for office is a significant commitment. You’ll spend months talking to strangers, asking for money, and exposing yourself to criticism. Make sure you actually want to do it.

Questions to answer honestly:

• Can you handle public criticism?
• Do you have the time (evenings, weekends, for months)?
• Is your family/household on board?
• Are you okay losing?

Research the office

• What does this position actually do?
• What are the current issues?
• Who else is running or might run?
• What did previous winners spend?
• What’s the voter turnout history?

Know the rules

Before you spend or raise a dollar:

• What are the contribution limits?
• What are the spending limits?
• When does the campaign period officially start?
• What disclosures are required?
• Do you need to register before fundraising?

Every jurisdiction is different. Get this right from the start.

Build your core team

You need at least:

• Campaign manager — Runs the day-to-day operation
• Treasurer — Handles money and compliance
• Volunteer coordinator — Recruits and manages volunteers

This can be one person wearing multiple hats at first, but you need someone besides yourself.

Your message

Why are you running?

Develop a clear, compelling answer. Not policy positions—your personal motivation. “I’m running because I’m tired of seeing my neighbours pushed out by rising rents” is better than “I’m running to address the housing crisis.”

What’s your platform?

Pick 3-5 issues. Not 20. Voters can’t remember 20 positions. What are the 3 things you’ll fight for?

Make them:

• Relevant to the office you’re seeking
• Concrete enough to be understood
• Distinct from what other candidates are saying

Who are you talking to?

Not everyone. Which voters are persuadable? Where do they live? What do they care about?

Voter contact

The math

To win, you need votes. Work backwards:

• How many votes did the winner get last time?
• How many voters are there?
• How many can you realistically contact?
• What percentage will vote for you?

This gives you a target for voter contact.

Door-knocking

The most effective form of voter contact. Plan to knock on thousands of doors.

Best practices:

• Have a script, but be natural
• Ask questions, don’t just talk
• Identify supporters, persuadables, and opponents
• Record everything
• Follow up with supporters

Phone calls

Less effective than doors, but more efficient. Good for:

• Reminding supporters to vote
• Reaching people you can’t reach in person
• Volunteer activity when weather is bad

Events

Town halls, meet-and-greets, community forums. Good for:

• Showing you’re a credible candidate
• Getting media coverage
• Engaging volunteers

Less efficient for voter contact—a 50-person event reaches fewer people than 3 hours of door-knocking.

Digital

Email, social media, digital ads. Good for:

• Reaching voters you can’t reach in person
• Fundraising
• Building name recognition

Not a substitute for personal contact. Digital alone won’t win a local race.

Fundraising

How much do you need?

Research what previous winners spent. You don’t need to match them, but you need enough to be competitive.

Where does money come from?

For local races:

• Personal network — Friends, family, colleagues
• Supporters — People you meet while campaigning
• Small dollar online — Email and social media fundraising
• Events — Fundraising dinners, house parties

Compliance

• Know your contribution limits
• Issue receipts
• Track everything
• Report on time

Get a good treasurer. Compliance mistakes can kill a campaign.

Volunteers

Recruitment

Ask everyone. Door-knocking volunteers, phone bank volunteers, event volunteers, sign installers. Every interaction is a chance to recruit.

Management

• Respect their time
• Give them meaningful work
• Thank them constantly
• Feed them

Retention

Volunteers who have a good experience come back. Volunteers who feel used don’t.

The final push

GOTV (Get Out The Vote)

The last days of a campaign are about turnout, not persuasion. Make sure every supporter votes.

• Identify your supporters throughout the campaign
• Contact them all in the final days
• Remind them to vote
• Offer rides to polls if needed

E-day operations

Have scrutineers at polling stations. Track who’s voted. Contact supporters who haven’t voted yet.

After the election

If you win

Thank everyone. Transition to governance mode. Deliver on your promises.

If you lose

Thank everyone. Consider what you learned. Decide if you’ll run again. Stay involved in civic life.

Most successful candidates lost their first race. Losing isn’t the end.