How to Run for Congress

Election season is rolling by. For some people disgruntled by our current political system, this may be the time of year when they decide to quit their job and run for office.

Therefore, I am creating a step to step guide on how to run for Congress.

1. Meet the Requirements
If you are running for the House of Representatives, you must be 25 years old and a citizen for 7 years. If you are running for the Senate, you must be 30 years old and a citizen for 9 years. For both of them, you have to live in the state you are running for office in.

2. File your Forms
You must fill out 2 FEC Forms to run for Congress. FEC Form 1 is for committees, while FEC Form 2 is for candidates. You must fill out FEC Form 1 for your campaign committee, while you must fill out FEC Form 2 for your declaration of candidacy. Certain states have deadlines to get your forms through, so research that in the website on Step 3.

FEC Form 1 PDF - http://www.fec.gov/pdf/forms/fecfrm1.pdf
FEC Form 1 Webform - https://webforms.fec.gov/webforms/form1/index.htm
FEC Form 2 PDF - http://www.fec.gov/pdf/forms/fecfrm2.pdf
FEC Form 2 Webform - https://webforms.fec.gov/webforms/form2/index.htm

3. Get your Signatures
In order to actually get on the ballot, you need to get signatures. The website below has all the details about the requirements per state to get on the ballot. The second website shows the filing deadlines for signatures and forms per state.
https://ballotpedia.org/Signature_requirements_and_deadlines_for_2014_U.S._Congress_elections
https://ballotpedia.org/Signature_requirements_and_deadlines_for_2016_U.S._Congress_elections

4. Start a Website
There are many websites dedicated to giving candidates a way to get their own campaign websites. Websites provide more info as well as create a good way to raise money. This website below is one of many to give campaign websites to candidates.
https://www.campaignpartner.com

5. Raise Money!
Through your campaign website, email supporters and raise money! You can attach donation receiving places on your site in multiple ways. For Democratic Candidates, the best way is ActBlue. For everybody else and Democrat candidates, you can use PayPal or other services to receive money. Create a separate account just for your campaign, so you can successfully report on your campaign finances.

6. Spread the Word
Using social media and word of mouth, try to get your message through. You should also advertise as much as you can without using up all of your money.

7. Vote!
There is no way to win unless you vote and get others to also vote. Register to vote and then vote on primary days. If you win the primaries, make sure to rally your supporters to vote for you on Election Day.

Note: This isn't a complete guide. These are merely the basics. If you are serious about running for office, do a bit more research, but use this as a starting base.

Liberal Revolution?

A couple of weeks ago, the Canadian General Election was held. Before the election, the Conservatives were in power, like they had been since 2006. If Stephen Harper and the Conservatives had won the election, they would've had a good chance of being the longest consecutive majority in the Canadian parliament.  Stephen Harper was the Prime Minister for 9 years, had he won, he could've beaten Sir Wilfrid Laurier for longest consecutive tenure as Prime Minister of Canada (he had 15 years as Prime Minister).

However, none of that happened. Justin Trudeau, a 43 year old former schoolteacher and son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and the Liberal Party crushed the Conservatives and New Democratic Party. At the start of the election, the Conservatives held 159 seats in Parliament, the New Democrats held 95 seats in Parliament, and the Liberals held 36 seats in Parliament. After the election, the Liberals held 184 seats in Parliament, the Conservatives held 99 seats in Parliament, and the New Democrats held 44 seats in Parliament.

This wasn't a random occurrence. A major shift to the left in the West has been evident. Over the summer, the Labour Party elected a socialist, Jeremy Corbyn, as its new leader. In America, Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist, and the progressive wing of the Democratic party have launched an insurgent campaign that is catching up to the once favorite Hillary Clinton's campaign.

Of course, one could argue, other parts of Europe are going to the right. After Poland's most recent election, there is no left wing party with seats in parliament. In America also, the Republican Party has been lurching further and further to the right in recent times, even leading to the resignation of the Speaker of the House John Boehner.

However, new polling shows that the Democrats have a good chance of retaking the Senate and have a better chance than before, although still slim, to take back the House also. The Presidency still remains up for grabs, due to ongoing crowded campaigns.

While some countries are going to the right, the West seems to be pivoting towards the left. Socialist is no longer a dirty word, and people are starting to learn that the word socialist and the word communist aren't synonyms.

All the evidence is pointing towards a Liberal Revolution.