Best Practices

Essential Gear For The Campaign Trail

A rundown of must-have gear for campaigning on the move.

Stepping away from your desk and onto the campaign trail is key to truly understanding a race. Nothing beats talking to voters face-to-face - whether you're knocking on doors or at campaign events. These real-world interactions give you insights you can't get any other way.

To keep you going strong while you're out and about, here's a rundown of must-have gear for campaigning on the move.

Pocket Notebook & Pen

It’s hard to beat the convenience and reliability of pen and paper when inspiration strikes.

Pocket Knife

Having a cutting tool on hand is helpful whether you’re opening packaging or pitching in on event setup.

Smartphone Tripod

A smartphone is the only camera you need to create effective digital content, especially because it minimizes the amount of editing and turn around time to getting it in front of your audience.

AirTag

Once, at a campaign event, a volunteer accidentally ran over the bag containing my MacBook because someone had “helpfully” moved it for me. Having an AirTag can warn you when you get separated from your gear.

Water Bottle

Even though you’re eating the finest cuisine gas stations have to offer, you can still take care of your physical health by staying hydrated.

Charger & Cords

Follow the old adage of “pair and a spare” when it comes to charges and cords for all of your devices. You’ll lose some and give some away when on the road, but you’ll be everyone’s best friend.

Adapters

Whether that’s an HDMI adapter for presentations or an SD card from the camera, it’s helpful to have the right adapters tucked away in your bag.

Thumb Drive

Having a USB thumb drive can be a life saver when you need to get files transferred or printed and you’re not on the network or signals are weak.

Internet Hotspot

Depending on your geography, you may be able to use a mobile hotspot from your cell phone provider, but if you’re in a more rural region, a Starlink can be worth the investment to keep your candidate always connected.

Conclusion

Meeting voters in person is a crucial part of being an effective campaign team member. This gear will help you stay productive and organized while you're out in the field.


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