What to Do If Your Candidate Didn’t Win

The Presidential election is only a small slice of American electoral politics. In fact, some might say, the Presidential winner is least important of all when it comes to what will actually affect one’s daily life.

We talk so much about the primary office that conversations about Senators, Congressmen, Governors, City Council and School Board candidates — and others — get far less scrutiny and investigation than they should. That means people go into the voting booth feeling confident about their top choice, but less so about the lower offices that likely required their vote.

On the other side of Election Day, yard signs disappear and tensions fade, but policy is ripe for the making, shaping and passing. Regardless of who won, concerned citizens have work to do and the outcome of the election offers direction on that. Here are a few things you can do, whether your preferred candidate won or not:

1. Get to Know the Office. If you aren’t already familiar with the offices that were filled, get to know what the job actually entails. Where do these individuals actually have authority? In what way can and should they be influenced? Job descriptions on city or state government websites should be available, so get to digging!

2. Become Familiar with the Candidate-Elect. You may know a little already about those who have been elected — or re-elected — but you’ll be a much more effective advocate for your cause if you really know them. Who are they? What do they really think about particular policies — behind the campaign ads? What have they actually done? It’s not hard to get this information if you do a little Googling and question-asking of those in their vicinity.

3. Communicate with Local Organizations. Non-profits and smaller organizations devoted to niche causes will have the knowledge on everything you need to know about their issue. If it’s connected to yours, they are a great first stop. What are their plans? What are their goals for the next 1-4 years? Join them or formulate a game plan to work together and make progress on your concerns together.

4. Network Network Network. The line, “It’s not what you know, but who you know” is always relevant. When new leaders are taking the helm, it’s important to make yourself familiar with key players. Attend the Zoom happy hours, schedule coffees, follow & engage with people on social media. When your name is familiar, you’ll have better luck when you have a request or need.

5. Volunteer. The very best thing you can do is volunteer for a cause in which you believe. Organizations don’t give up their mission because the most helpful candidate for them didn’t win. What they might do, however, is gear up for a tougher battle for funds or recognition — and they are going to need passionate volunteers like you to help them make that happen. Loss can fuel what your cause needs to succeed in the end!

6. Donate. You may have donated your heart out during campaign season, but if your pocketbook has anything left, dishing out the funds to the places working on your issues, it will go a long way, both in your feeling of taking action and of literally helping create change momentum that lasts beyond any election outcome.

These are just a few ideas that might give you some steam to collect yourself and keep on keeping on in the face of adversity.