Field organizing is a critical component of political campaigns, particularly in the United States, where elections are highly competitive and voter turnout is crucial for success. A field organizer is responsible for building and managing a team of volunteers and supporters, creating a ground game strategy, and executing that strategy to mobilize voters and win elections.
In political campaigns, the number of field organizers is determined by the size of the campaign, the number of voters in a district, and the amount of resources available to the candidate. A field organizer’s job is to manage volunteers, coordinate events, and engage with the community in order to build support for the candidate.
Field organizers need a range of skills to succeed in their role. Hard skills like voter identification, data management, and phone banking are essential, but equally important are soft skills like communication, volunteer recruitment, and supporter management. Field organizers must also be able to work under time constraints and geographical constraints, particularly during the months leading up to election day.
In order to win an election, a field organizer must be able to persuade voters to support their candidate. This requires a variety of tactics, including door-to-door canvassing, phone calls, direct mail, and campaign rallies. In addition, a field organizer must be able to identify base voters and ensure they turn out on election day.
Data science and software tools like NGP VAN have become increasingly important in political campaigns. Field organizers use these tools to manage volunteers, track voter contact, and develop a winning strategy.
For example, Maranda Saling, a field organizer for the Harris campaign in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, used NGP VAN to organize phone banking events, recruit volunteers, and manage supporter data. Saling’s efforts were critical to the success of the campaign, which won number of important victories in Iowa.
In addition to voter mobilization, field organizers may also work on issues like in-state tuition or workforce months, and may work with special-interest groups and community organizers to build support for their candidate.
Field organizing can be a demanding job, but it is also highly rewarding. Field organizers have the opportunity to work on important campaigns, engage with people in their community, and make a difference in the political process. Salaries for field organizers can vary depending on the size of the campaign and the level of experience, but typically range from $30,000 to $50,000 per year.
Overall, field organizing is a crucial role in political campaigns. Without the hard work of field organizers, candidates would not be able to effectively communicate with voters, mobilize their base, or win elections.
So, if you have a passion for politics, good communication skills, and enjoy working with people, a job as a field organizer may be right for you!