I ran for office three years ago. I don't think I'm going to do it again anytime soon. The challenges I see are contributing to a more polarized political environment.
This was great - something that doesn't get talked about NEARLY ENOUGH. I could write a novella in response, but I will just share one thing that stood out for me enough to write it down: "It’s a sacrifice treated as an exercise in self-enrichment, which is a tough combination." I don't think anyone thought I was trying to enrich myself by running for a (potential) $65k state rep salary, necessarily, but one of the primary drumbeats I couldn't get out of my head was how much nobody had a clue about the level of sacrifice. Just so much demand, advice, assumption. I was able to not work during mine (cannot fathom how others with kids/jobs do it - literally cannot, and have SO.MUCH.RESPECT). It wasn't exactly self-pity, but that was there, for sure (TBH), as I was knocking door after door, night after night and weekend after weekend (or meetings/events/etc), and seeing people with their kids while I only saw mine for dinner (sometimes).
I thought I was making a worthy sacrifice, of course, and believed deeply in what I was doing. But I also ran in a very purple district, and you're right - this anger and hostility that comes from both extremes (but, devastatingly, so much from the left) - is so demoralizing. I didn't experience it yet then, but now I just feel like the whole thing was kind of a waste. I was running ahead, sweating, out of breath, but determined - thinking, "You guys are all behind me, we're in this together, etc" - but now it feels like everyone was just back there, fracturing like broken glass, while I burned myself out like an idiot.
Thanks for running Ben and for this great post. It can be so hard to run for office but we need good people like you in politics. I am seriously considering running for office, but the many issues you faced are definitely a deterrant.
MO-02 is very much winnable this cycle. I think it would be awesome if you ran again but understand the many reasons you may not want to. If you're not running again, please try to find another candidate with similar values/approach to you, we won redder districts than this in 2018, we can do it again with the right candidate!
This was great - something that doesn't get talked about NEARLY ENOUGH. I could write a novella in response, but I will just share one thing that stood out for me enough to write it down: "It’s a sacrifice treated as an exercise in self-enrichment, which is a tough combination." I don't think anyone thought I was trying to enrich myself by running for a (potential) $65k state rep salary, necessarily, but one of the primary drumbeats I couldn't get out of my head was how much nobody had a clue about the level of sacrifice. Just so much demand, advice, assumption. I was able to not work during mine (cannot fathom how others with kids/jobs do it - literally cannot, and have SO.MUCH.RESPECT). It wasn't exactly self-pity, but that was there, for sure (TBH), as I was knocking door after door, night after night and weekend after weekend (or meetings/events/etc), and seeing people with their kids while I only saw mine for dinner (sometimes).
I thought I was making a worthy sacrifice, of course, and believed deeply in what I was doing. But I also ran in a very purple district, and you're right - this anger and hostility that comes from both extremes (but, devastatingly, so much from the left) - is so demoralizing. I didn't experience it yet then, but now I just feel like the whole thing was kind of a waste. I was running ahead, sweating, out of breath, but determined - thinking, "You guys are all behind me, we're in this together, etc" - but now it feels like everyone was just back there, fracturing like broken glass, while I burned myself out like an idiot.
Thanks for running Ben and for this great post. It can be so hard to run for office but we need good people like you in politics. I am seriously considering running for office, but the many issues you faced are definitely a deterrant.
MO-02 is very much winnable this cycle. I think it would be awesome if you ran again but understand the many reasons you may not want to. If you're not running again, please try to find another candidate with similar values/approach to you, we won redder districts than this in 2018, we can do it again with the right candidate!