Given the amount of political discussion here, I would imagine so. I am not exactly expecting any current United States Senators, but I am certain many of us would run for city council, school board, county government - especially those who live in smaller communities.
I have a friend who is running for mayor where I live. Admittedly it is a long shot campaign, but it’s a fascinating process to participate in debates, design ads, and appear on radio programs - to raise issues. I don’t have any huge political ambitions, but I have thought about doing such a thing myself in 10 or 15 years (I am 27 now), if nothing else to debate and participate.
What sort of experience is it to run, even for a seemingly minor office? Is losing hard even if you are a long shot to begin with? Has anyone raised an issue no one else would talk about? How does one deal with rumors, or whispering campaigns? And would you do it again?
Whoa. Deja vu.
There’s a very similar thread going in IMHO right now. (Not complaining, just noting.)
I swear I didn’t see it.
If that is true, lock this up!!
I volunteered for a prof who was running for a city council seat years ago which was a very educational experience.
I also canvassed for Bill Clinton in '92 and '96, registering voters from overwhelmingly Democratic districts. At the time I thought that such grassroots activities might lead to bigger things but it just didn’t happen.
Nonetheless, I would recommend working on a political campaign to anyone interested in the process. Big fun.
Wasn’t matt_mcl doing something political at one point? I could swear I remember him talking about it. . .
Tripler
It was a year or so back, though . . .
[Until he shows up to give the official word…]
matt_mcl ran for office as a Member of Parliament (that’s for the federal government) for his riding in Montreal. He was the candidate for the New Democratic Party, Canada’s mainstream left-of-centre party.