A political campaign is an organized effort to secure a majority or plurality of votes to elect a candidate for public office or pass ballot initiatives. Often, the most competitive campaigns are those for major national offices, where the winner will determine the balance of power in government and the outcome of policy debates. These races attract the highest levels of funding and most professional staffers.

To win, a campaign must develop a clear understanding of its voters and prospective donors and volunteers, as well as the motivations that drive them. This requires a combination of research and data analytics, as well as the development of strategies to engage and mobilize them.

During early outreach to voters, campaigns usually ask what they think are the most important issues in their district. They then attempt to match those issues with the candidate’s position on them. This data can be compiled into a database and used for future targeted voter outreach.

Candidates may also host events at which they can talk about their policy positions with a wider audience. These are usually called hustings and can be advertised in newspapers and online. They may also take part in public debates with other candidates for a given post, again in local community buildings. A large and engaged social media presence enables a campaign to disseminate accurate information quickly and respond to false claims promptly. This can help to build trust and credibility with the public.