Your personal notebook
My Run File
Your notes, answers, and decisions, all in one place.
You don’t need to figure everything out today. Use this space to collect what you know, what you still need to find out, and anything you want to come back to.
Your answers are saved in this browser, not in a Ground Game account. Anyone using this browser profile may be able to access them. Download a backup if you want to keep a copy or move to another device.
Section 1: Know the Job
Run File 01: Office Brief (optional)
Record what the office does, what it can and cannot control, its likely workload, one thing that surprised you, and whether the work still interests you.
Field Notes
Open worksheet →Section 2: Know the Race
Run File 02: Race Snapshot (optional)
Before you decide whether to run, get a clearer picture of the race. You don’t need to become an election analyst. Start with what you know, look up a few facts, and leave the rest for later.
Section 1 · The basics
Open worksheet →Office
District
Election date
Term length
Section 2 · What happened last time?
Open worksheet →Election records
+Add in the worksheetWhat, if anything, do these results tell you about the district?
Section 3 · Who’s in the picture?
Open worksheet →Who are you likely to face?
What advantages might they have?
What advantages might you have? What would you need to build?
Section 4 · Why are you being asked?
Open worksheet →Section 5 · What don’t you know?
Open worksheet →What surprised you?
What important questions remain unanswered?
Who could help you get better answers?
Section 6 · Your Race Snapshot
Open worksheet →The race I’m looking at
What seems to make this race harder?
What seems to create an opportunity?
Based on what I know right now...
Section 3: Know the Rules
Run File 03: Rules Sheet (optional)
Election rules vary by office, location and election. This worksheet helps you keep track of what you’ve confirmed, where you found the answer and what you still need to find out.
Section 1 · Can you hold this office?
Open worksheet →What are the eligibility requirements for this office?
Is there anything you still need to verify about your eligibility?
Where did you verify this?
Official source
Source link
Date checked
Section 2 · How do you get on the ballot?
Open worksheet →How would you become a candidate for this office?
What filings or forms are required to get on the ballot?
What are the important ballot-access dates or deadlines?
Date 1
Description 1
Date 2
Description 2
Additional notes
Where did you verify this?
Official source
Source link
Date checked
Section 3 · What about campaign money?
Open worksheet →What requirements apply before you raise or spend money?
What reporting or filing obligations have you identified?
What important campaign-finance dates or deadlines do you know about?
Date 1
Description 1
Date 2
Description 2
Additional notes
Where did you verify this?
Official source
Source link
Date checked
Section 4 · What else could affect you?
Open worksheet →What have you learned?
Are there any other legal or procedural requirements you need to understand before running?
What would you still need to do?
Where did you verify this?
Official source
Source link
Date checked
Section 5 · Your Rules Sheet
Open worksheet →What have you verified that you would need to do?
What dates or deadlines should already be on your radar?
Which official sources will you rely on as you move forward?
What do you still need to find out?
Who or what could give you an authoritative answer?
Section 4: Know What You're Taking On
Run File 04: Personal Reality Check (optional)
Reflect on time, employment, finances, family responsibilities, privacy, personal boundaries, and what would make running manageable or unmanageable.
Part 1 · Time, Work & Money
Open worksheet →Where would campaign time actually come from?
Could running affect your job or income?
What are your financial boundaries?
Part 2 · People & Privacy
Open worksheet →What would running ask of the people closest to you?
How much privacy are you willing to give up?
Part 3 · Your Boundaries
Open worksheet →What personal boundaries would you need to protect during the campaign?
Part 4 · The Bottom Line
Open worksheet →What would make running manageable for you?
What would make running unmanageable?
Section 5: Know Your Support
Run File 05: Support Check (optional)
People may encourage you to run. Some may offer help. Others may promise support without explaining what that means.
Section 1 · Who’s in your corner?
Open worksheet →Confirmed support: Who has committed, and to what?
Promised support: Who has discussed helping, but hasn’t committed?
Unknown support: What help is still missing or uncertain?
Section 2 · What help might you need?
Open worksheet →Where might you need help?
Which kinds of help matter most to your decision about running?
Is there support you haven’t found yet?
Section 3 · Are there strings attached?
Open worksheet →What expectations have been discussed?
Is there anything you’re uncomfortable agreeing to or need to clarify?
Section 4 · What if the help doesn’t come?
Open worksheet →Which support are you counting on that isn’t confirmed yet?
If that support never arrives, what would change?
What would you need to reconsider?
Section 5 · Your Support Check
Open worksheet →Questions I need answered
My next conversation
Section 6: Make the Call
Run File 06: Decision (optional)
You’ve looked at the job, the race, the rules, what running would ask of you, and the support you might have.