Go beyond the campaign ad. Research the candidate.
In Part 1, we talked about recognizing emotional language, misleading statistics, labels, and messages designed to divide us.
Now comes the next step:
How do you figure out what a candidate actually believes and what they might do if elected?
A campaign ad tells you what a candidate wants you to know.
Good election research goes deeper.
Start With the Candidate’s Own Words
Visit the candidate’s official website and look for their positions on the issues.
Ask:
- What issues do they highlight?
- What specific policies do they propose?
- Are they explaining how they would accomplish their goals?
- What important issues are missing?
A campaign website is useful—but remember that it is still a campaign document.
Look at Their Record
If the candidate has previously held public office, look at what they have actually done.
Research:
- How did they vote?
- What legislation did they sponsor?
- What policies did they support or oppose?
- Did their actions match their campaign promises?
A candidate’s record can sometimes tell you more than a campaign advertisement.
Read More Than One News Source
One article rarely tells the entire story.
Look for reporting from multiple reputable news organizations. Pay attention to whether an article is news reporting, analysis, an editorial, or an opinion piece.
Those are not the same thing.
And don’t rely only on a headline. Read the entire article.
Go to the Original Source
When possible, don’t stop with someone else’s description of what happened.
If an article says a candidate voted for a bill, look up the bill.
If a campaign quotes a government report, find the report.
If someone shares a video clip, look for the full speech or interview.
Context matters.
Follow the Money
Campaign finance can help us understand who is supporting a candidate.
Ask:
Who is donating?
Are organizations, industries, PACs, unions, corporations, or wealthy individuals spending money to influence the race?
Financial support does not automatically prove that a candidate will take a particular position, but it can provide important context.
Research the Office, Too
This step is often forgotten.
Before deciding whether you agree with a candidate’s promises, ask:
Does this office actually have the power to do what the candidate is promising?
A governor, attorney general, secretary of state, legislator, county commissioner, school board member, and member of Congress all have very different responsibilities.
Sometimes candidates promise things the office they are seeking cannot accomplish by itself.
Before you vote, ask:
- What does this candidate say?
- What have they actually done?
- What do reliable sources say?
- Can I find the original source?
- Who is funding the campaign?
- Does this office have the authority to accomplish what they are promising?
Election research takes a little more time than reading a campaign mailer or watching a 30-second video.
But democracy asks something of us, too.
Don’t just learn what candidates want you to know. Dig deeper. Ask questions. Check the record.
An informed community is a powerful community.
