This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 323,654 times.

X

Running for political office is a great way to make a difference in your community. Before you run, you’ll want to get your name out there by joining your neighborhood association, attending city council meetings, and getting involved with community organizations. Once you’re ready to run, you’ll need to submit an application and a fee to your secretary of state’s office. In some cases, you may need to get a certain number of signatures from community members before you can run. It’s a good idea to get in touch with your local political party, if you belong to one, so they can support your campaign. When it comes to advertising, you may want to hand out fliers, book a TV commercial, post on social media, and participate in a local debate. To learn how to organize donations for your campaign, read on!