How to beat an Incumbent

The prospect of running against an incumbent can be a daunting one to say the least. Incumbents have some advantages that can work in their favor, such as established name recognition and an established bank of fundraisers. Thought they may have a few advantages, it doesn’t mean they’re impossible to beat. Their perceived advantages may, in fact, work against them – their name recognition may not be with a positive association or their fundraisers may no longer be happy with their past legislative decisions.

Regardless of these perceived advantages turn out to be assets or not, there are steps that you, as the challenger, can take to help give you a better chance at winning against your opponent.

Get an Early Start

One of the biggest mistakes challenger make in running against an incumbent is to wait until the “traditional” campaign season to begin. If you want to have any chance at a victory over your opponent, do not make this mistake. Most incumbents are typically in constant campaign mode. They already have their thoughts on the next election and are making plans on how to go about snaring another victory. Use the pre-election time to start planning and devising a winning solution.

Draw a Contrast

There isn’t a single politician that every single person likes. There are going to be proponents to the incumbent so it’s up to you to differentiate yourself from your opponent. You have to present the voters with a better alternative to what they already have; show them why you’re clearly different and why that makes you the better choice.

Define Your Opponent and the Agenda

As a challenger it’s crucial to define your opponent before they can define you. Do your research and build your message ahead of time. By getting a jump on the incumbent, you have the opportunity to characterize them in a way that is approbatory to you. In addition to defining the incumbent, it is equally crucial that you determine what the agenda will be. If given the chance, your opponent will certainly turn the election into a display of their strengths and your weaknesses. The way to avoid this is to beat your opponent to the punch. Do your research and be sure to define the agenda first.

Bottom Line

It is possible to defeat an incumbent. It just takes a lot of hard work and planning. Start early, show the constituents not only why you’re different, but why you’re differences are favorable and be sure to be the first to define both your opponent and the agenda.