How to Get Started as a First Time Candidate
This week’s guest is a former boss of mine and somebody who helped shape me in significant ways as a candidate and campaign trainer.
Matt Robbins is a Republican political consultant with clients from coast to coast and abroad. He has helped train over 50 thousand activists and candidates in 46 states and abroad.
Matt is a proud alumnus of The International Republican Institute, and The American Council of Young Political Leaders (on whose Board of Trustees he sits) and is affiliated with The Marian Bergeson Excellence in Public Service Series, The Political Leadership Academy, and The Close Up Foundation.
An Arkansas native with a degree from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, Matt blames the 80’s newspaper comic strip “Bloom County” for an early, perverse interest in politics and its absurdities.
Matt, it’s an honor to have you on the podcast and great to talk to you again!
Links from the Podcast:
Connect with Matt Robbins on Twitter, LinkedIn!
Check out the books we mentioned in the Podcast Episode:
Important Time Stamps and Notes:
[00:00] Podcast Introduction and Matt Robbins Bio
[01:33] Welcome to the Podcast, Matt!
[02:14] How did you get started in politics?
[08:00] Running for Office is, at its core, a simple affair. Not easy, but simple.
[17:20] Can you articulate WHY you are running for office?
[24:10] What are you doing to help conservatives and campaigns today?
[34:50] What are the primary indicators you look for to determine the health of a campaign?
[43:23] If you want to run for office as a first time candidate, there are plenty of opportunities.
[45:05] What are the top systems that candidates need to put in place before they run?
[47:12] “Really? He is running for office?!”
[52:40] We need good, principled people to run for office and help others do so!
[54:42] What are some of the most common pitfalls that a first time candidate falls into?
59:48 Your spouse needs to be your biggest fan. Take care of your family! Listen to how Matt Krause puts his family first!
[1:03:48] Where can folks find you online, Matt?
[1:04:30] Farewell to Matt Robbins and Podcast Outro
