16 Inspirational Quotes About Running for Office

Running for office can be a big (but doable!) undertaking. It’s an incredible opportunity to represent your community, find solutions to problems that matter, and put your ideas into action. Whether you’re running for office at the federal, state, or local level, these inspirational quotes about campaigning and public service are sure to give you the boost you need to keep going with confidence.

Quotes About Deciding to Run for Office

1. “Your voice matters, your experience, your life. Look at who is running your city or state right now, and if you don’t see yourself, it’s you who should be in that seat.” ~ Terry Vo, Nashville Metro Council member, Tennessee

2. “Running for office is important, and you don't really need more than to be right on the issues, and to be able to articulate what it is you believe. You don't need a certain background. You don't need to be a lawyer. You don't need to have some professional degree.” ~ Matt Gonzalez, former president, Board of Supervisors, San Francisco, California

3. “I remember saying to myself, ‘Either we can complain about it, or we can do something about it.’ Toward the beginning of this year, I decided to get off the sidelines and make a decision to run for office.” ~ Victoria Masika, 2023 candidate for Town Commissioner in Hillsborough, North Carolina

4. “When I first ran for public office, it was with the passion and idealism of a young man who believed that government could help make our lives better, that public service was a calling and that citizenship demanded responsibilities. There was a greater good.” ~ Former New Jersey Governor James McGreevey

Quotes About Being a Public Servant

1. “Service is running for public office with the explicit and limited goal of serving your neighbors.” ~ Political commentator S.E. Cupp

2. “If you're blessed enough to serve in public office, then you shouldn't just talk a good game about your values; you should cast your vote according to them.” ~ U.S. Senator John Thune, South Dakota

3. “The whole purpose of me seeking public office is to make the world a better place.” ~ Michael Capuano, former U.S. Congressman, Massachusetts

4. “We need a seat at the table. Protesting and being in the streets is fine, but if you have a seat at the table, you have a lot more power. If you're not at the table, you're on the menu. So many issues and so many rules, regulations, and policies that affect us are being discussed, and the real people are not able to have a voice regarding it.” ~ Barbara Gaskins, 2023 candidate for Greenville, North Carolina mayor

Quotes About Serving Outside of Partisan Divides

1. “Don't try to be somebody you're not because it doesn't work. If you try to be this perfect person or perfect persona of what you think that somebody should be when they're involved in public office, it's just not going to work. Just be yourself, stay true to your core values, and really just stay abreast of the issues.” ~ former U.S. Congressman Ben Quayle, Arizona

2. “When I chose to run for public office, I pledged to stand with the people of Nevada rather than follow a partisan line.” ~ Jacky Rosen, U.S. Senator, Nevada

3. “I was running as independent or nonpartisan because I don't feel like parties should have to do with getting things done. Partisanship should not stop progress. I feel like people that are so focused on their parties are becoming blindsided to what the real issues are in society.” ~ Feanna Jattan-Singh, 2023 candidate for Worcester, Massachusetts city council

4. “I hope that folks that look like me, regardless candidly of their political affiliation, not only look at me and say that, you know, I want to vote for him at the ballot box, but also make the decision that perhaps they want to put their name up for public service and for public office.” ~ Daniel Cameron, former Attorney General and current gubernatorial candidate, Kentucky

Quotes About Democracy and Empowerment

1. "Democracy is based upon the conviction there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people." ~ Pastor Harry Emerson Fosdick 

2.  "In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it." ~ former President Barack Obama

3. “Somewhere inside of all of us is the power to change the world.” ~ Author Roald Dahl

4. "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." ~ Civil Rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

Want More Inspiration? 

Whether you’re new to politics, you’re just launching your campaign, or you’re in need of some extra incentive to take your candidacy over the finish line, GoodParty.org is here to help you run a fine-tuned, efficient campaign that connects with voters.

Get in touch with our team today to talk to an expert about launching your campaign or getting access to cutting-edge tools that can take your campaign to the next level.