How to Run for Office: A Step-by-Step Guide for First-Time Candidates

When we think about politics, we often think about national campaigns and heated presidential debates, but the heart of American democracy lies in our city councils, school boards, county commissions, and municipal offices.

Every month, new elections happen across the country, determining everything from school funding to road repairs, housing policies, and public spaces.

Yet, here’s the thing. While Republicans often run unopposed in these races, Democrats frequently leave seats uncontested. In 2025 alone, BallotReady estimates over 100,0000 seats will be up for election. Of those 10,000, school boards and city councils will dominate the open seats.

In other words, that’s 100,000 opportunities to make a difference. But only if we Democrats step up.

Why Don’t More Democrats Run for Political Office?

Running for office can feel daunting. From navigating filing deadlines, to knocking on doors, and fundraising, there’s plenty to do. Where do you start? And how do you balance campaigning while juggling work and family?

That’s where the National Democratic Training Committee (NTDC) can help. We exist to demystify the political process and help everyday people, just like you, learn how to run for office, launch their first campaigns, and win. (Yes, we want you to win!)

Landing page of NDTC’s So You Think You Want To Run online academy course with a picture of tennis shoes on a road.

Text of first self-paced course of So You Think You Want To Run online academy course that says “You Want To Run & We Want To Help.”

Ready to Start? Take NDTC’s “So You Think You Want to Run?”

Our most popular training, “So You Think You Want to Run”, is perfect for first-time candidates. It’s a quick 45-minute course, and over 5,000 aspiring candidates across the country have taken it.

There’s two ways to start:

Our Self-Paced Online Academy: Learn the essentials of how to run for office on your own schedule. This course covers why you want to run, the core steps of how to run for office, and conversations you’ll need to have along the way. It’s ideal for the working parent who wants to step up to push for change in their community, but who is also juggling family, work, and the everpresent challenge of producing a healthy dinner every night.
Live Virtual Training: Want your questions answered live? This training is perfect for someone who wants to go beyond self-paced study. Here, you’ll get real-time answers from organizers like Kandace Harris or political veterans like Sean Carlson. We offer sessions monthly, so reserve your spot by clicking here.

What Office Should You Run For?

Maybe you’re fired up about education policy. Or you go to bed dreaming up improvements to public safety and infrastructure. But you’re still unsure which political office matches with your goals.

Here’s the truth. Your “WHY” matters much more than your title.

Ask yourself:

What issues do I care about? (Schools? Housing? Climate change?)
Where can I make the most impact? (School board? City council?)
What’s the right level for my skill set? (Local vs. county vs. state.)

Our trainings help you match your passion with the right office, so that when you’re ready, you’ll know how to confidently know how to run for office and where you can make the most difference.

NDTC trainers in classrooms with future candidates and campaign staff.

You, Yes YOU Could be the Next Lauren Underwood, Maxwell Frost, or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes.

From Lauren Underwood, who was driven to run after her representative voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, to Tammy Duckworth, who was outraged by how veterans were treated, American history is full of people who got fed up and demanded change.

It’s everyday people who are tired of the pot holes that never get fixed, the overlooked neighborhoods, or the lack of funding for the local library. The examples are endless. And it all starts with one person deciding to say, “If not me, then who?”

Every Lauren Underwood, Maxwell Frost, and AOC once stood in your shoes, wondering if they could make a difference. The only difference is: they took action.

Democracy Needs You: Are You Ready to Run as a Democrat?

If you ever thought about making positive change in your community, there’s no better time to learn how to run for office. Our democracy needs leaders who care and are ready to show up, speak out, and take action.

At NDTC, we’re here to support you at every step. Click here or the buttons below to join NDTC and start your journey towards building a stronger democracy together.

It begins with you.