Interviews with Politicians and Staffers
Advice from those in the know.
Will Haskell, Connecticut State Senator
Senator Will Haskell is Connecticut's youngest state senator. At the age of 22, he defeated an incumbent candidate who had been in office for over two decades. His extensive ground campaign is credited for helping him secure his surprise win.
Golden Nuggets:
"What it Takes" by Ben Cramer. This book offers a deep dive into the 1988 presidential election as a way to understanding the election process.
Senator Will Haskell is Connecticut's youngest state senator. At the age of 22, he defeated an incumbent candidate who had been in office for over two decades. His extensive ground campaign is credited for helping him secure his surprise win.
Golden Nuggets:
- Smaller, "down ballot" campaigns provide more opportunities for volunteers, especially gap year-aged volunteers.
- Example - Senator Haskell had a gap student intern spearhead all digital ads - with a budget. Young adults bring unique skills, particularly useful with social media, web design, policy proposals, and debate prep.
- Show up a lot and you just might become an intern.
"What it Takes" by Ben Cramer. This book offers a deep dive into the 1988 presidential election as a way to understanding the election process.
Kelsey Perkins, District Director for Massachusetts Congresswoman Katherine M. Clark
Kelsey Perkins is the District Director for Congresswoman Katherine M. Clark of Massachusetts. As district director, Kelsey manages the congresswoman’s in district casework and outreach staff.
Golden Nuggets:
Kelsey Perkins is the District Director for Congresswoman Katherine M. Clark of Massachusetts. As district director, Kelsey manages the congresswoman’s in district casework and outreach staff.
Golden Nuggets:
- Working on a down ballot [local] campaign will help you learn more about your community and feel more connected there. Political life at the local level is now, more than ever, an exciting place to be.
- College aged gappers or interns who want to be in DC are encouraged to use the House Employment Bulletin or Senate Jobs Bulletin as a way to learn what positions are open. This can be part of a search strategy, or just a useful point of reference.
- The Secretary of State office for each state, or your state political party organization, are good starting points to research the various campaign calendars and plan a strategic approach to your applications.
- Networking and connections can help open doors, but it is what you do when you get there that matters most.
- Just show up. Be reliable. Work hard. Be prepared to do anything that supports the campaign including phone banks, running nomination papers around, and cleaning the office.
- Timing is critical to finding an opportunity. Every state and level of race is different in terms of when they are staffing up and will need volunteers or interns. Suppose you live in a state where the congressional primary is held in the fall and the seat is uncontested (or weakly contested) - the incumbent candidate may not start seriously staffing up and needing volunteers until the spring, or even later. Your goal is to find the campaign that needs you when you are available.
- Everything is a learning experience and all of it is temporary. Don't stress too much about how your experience might directly impact a career path, but be prepared for it to open your mind to new directions.
Reilly Rastello, Coro Fellow
Reilly Rastello is a Coro Fellow and has worked on campaigns ranging from congressional to gubernatorial to district attorney.
"What I enjoyed most about working on campaigns is the ability to talk to and hear from voters about the issues that are most impactful in their own lives. I also greatly enjoyed the strategic thinking that goes into the type of messages a candidate puts out to voters and what issues will motivate people to support certain candidates. I also enjoyed seeing how candidates build trust and credibility with voters and how arduous this process is for both candidates and their campaign staff."
Golden Nuggets:
Reilly Rastello is a Coro Fellow and has worked on campaigns ranging from congressional to gubernatorial to district attorney.
"What I enjoyed most about working on campaigns is the ability to talk to and hear from voters about the issues that are most impactful in their own lives. I also greatly enjoyed the strategic thinking that goes into the type of messages a candidate puts out to voters and what issues will motivate people to support certain candidates. I also enjoyed seeing how candidates build trust and credibility with voters and how arduous this process is for both candidates and their campaign staff."
Golden Nuggets:
- Reach out to a candidate you support via their social media pages or website and ask if there are volunteer opportunities that are available.
- Emphasize your interest in performing a variety of tasks to help the campaign, i.e. knocking on doors, direct mail, social media postings, etc.
- Highlight skills from prior internships or jobs that could be used to help the campaign. These skills could range from talking to and relating to people when knocking on doors and hanging campaign literature to strategies of increasing the candidate's appeal on social media.
Golden Nuggets from Political Staffers
- Consider staying local. It will be the most affordable option and allow you to build your community network.
- Tap into your state party organization (eg New Hampshire Democratic Party). They sometimes provide support such as housing, training and opportunities to meet other volunteers.
- Be aggressive and persistent in your role-seeking. Know that they can use your help, but that you have to hit on the right position at the right time. Call if you can find the phone number. Expect some non-responses and try again.
- Try for paid summer roles in addition to volunteer opportunities. Re-apply for paid options in the fall when college students dwindle.
