Midterms 2026Answers · Running for office
How should a candidate pick which issues to run on?
Pick two or three issues that meet three tests: voters in your area care about them, you can speak about them credibly, and they show how you're different from your opponent. More than that and voters won't remember any of it.
The three tests
1. Do voters care? Talk to people. Look at local news, surveys and what comes up at the door. A national topic that dominates cable news may not be what your district worries about. Cost of living, jobs, schools, housing and healthcare are common local concerns, but it varies by place.
2. Are you credible? Voters can tell when a candidate is reciting. A nurse talking about healthcare or a small-business owner talking about taxes has a built-in reason to be believed. If you've lived it, say so.
3. Does it set you apart? If you and your opponent say the same thing, the issue doesn't help you. Look for where your view or your background differs.
What to avoid
- A laundry list. Ten promises read as zero promises.
- Issues you can't influence in the office you're seeking. A House member has no say over a local zoning decision.
- Positions you haven't thought through. Reporters will test them.
Playing offense and defense
Every campaign picks fights. Some candidates want to talk about the issues where they have strength. Others want to move the conversation away from topics where they're weak. I think the smart move is to know your two weakest topics in advance and have a short, honest answer ready, rather than dodging.
A neutral note on this
This is advice about strategy, not about which positions are right. Candidates on every side use the same process: find what voters care about, speak credibly, and stay simple.
How the game handles it
I built this idea into Midterms 2026, the free iPhone game where you found your own party. During setup, press questions ask about your ideology, such as populist, libertarian, centrist, progressive or conservative, plus your top issues. Those answers decide where voters like you actually live on the map. All parties and events are fictional, and the game doesn't take sides. What you learn quickly is that a message that fits one state flops in another.
What I'd do
- Write down three issues and test each against the three questions
- Say each one in a single sentence a stranger would understand
- Pick the state or district first, then the issues, not the other way around