How My Candidates Win the Summer (and the Election)

In small-town elections, summer isn’t for coasting. It’s for canvassing. It’s for calling. It’s for listening.Here’s what I have my candidates do every day during the summer to build momentum and trust with voters. It all starts with showing up.

1. Go on a Listening Tour

Before we ever talk about platforms, we listen. I have candidates host backyard chats, drop by community events, and knock on doors with one clear purpose: to ask “What matters most to you and your family?” Listening is the foundation. If a candidate can’t listen, they shouldn’t be running.

2. Knock Doors and Make Calls Daily

Even 20 minutes a day makes a difference. I make sure they’re out there with a partner who can handle MiniVAN and log conversations. For phone banking, we use budget-friendly tools like Scale to Win to keep outreach consistent. It’s not about having all the time in the world. It’s about making time count.

3. Use a Listening-Focused Script

I train candidates to lead with curiosity. Ask questions, really hear the answers, and then connect the concerns back to their own experience or vision. No policy dumps. No lectures. Just honest dialogue.

4. Track Everything in VoteBuilder

If it’s not logged, it didn’t happen. I have candidates track every conversation in VoteBuilder. We use that data to understand what matters most, identify supporters, and build a smart Get Out The Vote plan.

5. Always Have Literature and Sticky Notes

Palm cards are simple, effective, and affordable. I make sure every candidate has them in hand. If someone isn’t home, I have an intern pre-write sticky notes that say “Sorry I missed you” and stick them to the card. (And we never, ever put anything in a mailbox — that’s illegal.)

6. Capture the Moment Every Time

Every door knock and every phone bank needs a photo. I remind candidates constantly: if you didn’t take a picture, it didn’t happen. Short video clips are even better. We use CapCut to turn those into reels and keep campaign content fresh.

7. Keep Track of What Voters Say

Throughout the summer, I have candidates keep a running list of what they’re hearing. Come September, we use that list to shape a platform rooted in real conversations. That’s how they speak with confidence about their vision — because it came straight from their community.

This is what summer looks like when you’re serious about winning small-town elections. Real work. Real conversations. Real listening.