10 Political Myths About Running for Office
Running for office can feel intimidating, especially if you’ve never worked in politics before. Most people don’t grow up learning the inner workings of running a campaign or being in public office. Instead, we often absorb what we see in movies, on social media, or in national headlines.
And that leads to a lot of misinformation, misconceptions, and political myths: common assumptions about campaigns that sound true, but often aren’t, especially in local elections where relationships matter more than headlines.
While running for office can be difficult, it’s not impossible, and it’s not reserved exclusively for political insiders. In fact, many city council, school board, and mayoral races are won by everyday people who decided their community deserved better leadership.
In this guide, we’ll break down the biggest political myths about running for public office and show you what’s actually true.
Myth #1: You Need a Lot of Money to Run for Office
It’s true that campaigns cost money, but the idea that you need a massive budget to even start is one of the most common and discouraging myths in politics.
Most local races don’t require huge war chests. Candidates can win with a lean budget by focusing their cash on what matters most, like:
In other words, you don’t need to outspend your opponent. You need to out-organize them.
LEARN MORE: See how much it actually costs to run for office in 2026.
Myth #2: You Need to Be a Lawyer or a Policy Expert
You don’t need a legal degree or decades of experience in public policy to run for office, nor to be a great elected official.
Sure, plenty of politicians have legal backgrounds, but public office isn’t a test of who can cite the most obscure statutes from memory. It’s about who can listen, learn, and lead their community with integrity. For local offices, people want leaders who understand their community because they live in it.
You’re a strong candidate for local office if you’re a:
Teacher
Small business owner
Nurse
Parent
Veteran
Nonprofit leader
Tradesperson
Community organizer
What matters most is your willingness to show up, listen to the local issues, and do the work.
Myth #3: You Have to Be Well-Connected to Run
This is one of those political myths that keeps good people out of leadership.
You don’t need party connections, wealthy donors, or a famous political last name to run for office.
All you need to do is raise your hand.
From there, you build connections by campaigning, meeting voters, recruiting volunteers, and finding supporters who care about the same issues you do.
In many communities, being a political outsider isn’t a disadvantage. It’s an advantage. Voters are often looking for someone who isn’t part of the usual political machine.
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Myth #4: Running for Office Is Only for Extroverts
You don’t have to be loud, flashy, or crave the spotlight to run a strong campaign.
However, you do need to be willing to talk to people.
Some candidates thrive at big events and rallies. Others shine in one-on-one conversations, small group meetings, or door-to-door canvassing where the focus is on listening, not performing.
If you’re more introverted, you can still run successfully by building a campaign style that fits you. Consider:
Structured, short canvassing shifts
Smaller meet-and-greets
Volunteer-led outreach
Thoughtful social media content
Clear, repeatable messaging
Voters don’t need a performer. They need someone real.
Myth #5: You Must Have a Perfect Background
A spotless record isn’t required to run for office. In reality, voters are often more forgiving of imperfections than people expect, especially in local elections where they care most about trust, effort, and accountability.
What matters is how you show up now.
That said, transparency matters. If you have something in your past that might come up, don’t ignore it. Prepare for it, be honest about it, and focus on what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown.
Myth #6: You Have to Be Born in the District
Most offices have residency requirements, but very few require you to have been born in the district you’d represent. What usually matters is that you live there now and have lived there for a certain amount of time. The minimum is often 6 months to a year, depending on the office and location.
Requirements vary depending on the office and location, but you typically need:
To be a resident in the city, township, ward, or district in which you’re running
To be a registered voter in that area
To have lived in that area for a minimum period of time
If you’re unsure, your local election office can tell you exactly what’s required.
LEARN MORE: Explore the real requirements to run for local office.
Myth #7: Negative Campaigning Guarantees Success
Negative campaigning is common, but it’s not a guaranteed path to victory, and it can be especially damaging for candidates in local races.
In many communities, voters want solutions more than they want drama. They’re exhausted by the attack politics and partisan noise of national news. If your campaign becomes only about tearing someone else down, you risk turning people off entirely.
That doesn’t mean you can’t draw contrasts or call out real failures, but the strongest campaigns give voters something to vote for, like:
Clear plans
Values-driven messages
Visions for their communities
Leaders they can trust
If you’re running to improve your city, make sure your campaign sounds like it.
Myth #8: Social Media Makes Campaigning Easy
Social media is a powerful tool for expanding your reach, but it doesn’t replace in-person campaigning.
A strong online presence can help you:
Build name recognition
Recruit volunteers
Raise donations
Share your message
Respond quickly to community concerns
But it’s not a shortcut.
Most candidates don’t win because a post goes viral. They win because they consistently show up where their voters are: door-to-door, at local events, in community spaces, and even online, engaging in conversations that build trust over time.
LEARN MORE: Get the most out of your posts with our guide to using social media for political campaigns.
Myth #9: You Have to Know Everything About Every Issue
You don’t need to be an expert on every issue to run for office.
What voters actually want is someone who:
Seeks to understand local problems
Listens without ego
Learns quickly
Asks good questions
Makes decisions with integrity
You can absolutely run for office while still learning the policy landscape. In fact, many great local leaders win because they’re honest about what they know and committed to learning what they don’t.
Myth #10: Running for Office Is a Solo Effort
Campaigns are not solo projects. Even the smallest local race needs a team.
Your team doesn’t have to be huge. Many grassroots candidates start with just a few committed people, such as:
A campaign manager or trusted organizer
A volunteer coordinator
A few reliable canvassers
Someone helping with communications
Supporters willing to host events or spread the word
Your campaign team can grow as momentum grows. Plus, building that team is one of the most meaningful parts of running. It’s where you can turn your candidacy into a movement of neighbors working toward something better.
LEARN MORE: Learn how to build your own lean campaign team.
Local Leadership Is More Possible Than You Think
If you’ve been thinking about running for office, don’t let outdated political myths stop you.
Local communities don’t need another career politician. They need leaders who care, listen, and show up, especially in city council meetings, school board decisions, and mayoral leadership, where the impact is immediate.
Luckily, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
GoodParty.org offers free and low-cost tools, resources, and community support designed for Independent and nonpartisan candidates who want to run people-powered campaigns.
Photo by George Pak
Ready to move beyond political myths and start your journey? Join the GoodParty.org Community to connect with other candidates, get support, and learn what it really takes to run and win.
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