A Short Guide for First-Time Candidates in Virginia

What to know, what to avoid, and how to survive your first campaign season

If you are running for office in Virginia for the first time, welcome. Whether you are stepping up for school board, the House of Delegates, or a local county seat, this is an exciting and overwhelming moment.

Virginia elections move fast, and each region has its own personality. Candidates in Northern Virginia face different challenges than candidates in Hampton Roads or Richmond, but many fundamentals stay the same.

If you want a practical and easy-going guide, keep reading!

1. Know your district deeply, not just statistically

Every district has its own culture. Fairfax County is not the same as Loudoun, and Virginia Beach is not the same as Richmond City. Spend time talking to people, not just reading numbers.

Ask them: What do you want your elected officials to understand about your community? What feels overlooked? What is changing fast?

This kind of listening shapes your message more than any consultant ever will.

2. Build a small, reliable team first

You do not need a massive operation to run a strong campaign in Virginia. Start with three things:

• someone who handles scheduling

• someone who handles digital communications

• someone who handles field or volunteers

If you have those three roles covered, you can grow outward. You do not need an army on day one.

3. Get your campaign materials ready early

This is an area where first time candidates often get tripped up. Yard signs, palm cards, mailers, and digital graphics take longer than expected. And during peak season in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and Richmond, timelines get tight quickly.

A few tips:

• finalize your headshot early

• keep your messaging clear and simple

• choose colors and fonts you can use everywhere

• print in Virginia if you can, because it gives you more control over timing

The biggest mistake new candidates make is waiting too long to create their campaign literature. Start sooner than you think. And don’t be afraid to ask for help, we want to be your partner!

4. Do not underestimate early voting

Virginia has some of the longest early voting periods in the country. That means your materials need to be ready long before Election Day.

If you are aiming for visibility, make sure your literature is:

• printed early enough• delivered fast enough

• available for canvassers at the start of early voting

Candidates who wait for “the perfect moment” often end up missing the most important one.

5. Focus on conversations, not perfection

Voters remember that you came to their door. They remember that you shook their hand at a community event. They remember authenticity more than flawless messaging.

Spend more time talking and listening than polishing.

6. Avoid common first-timer mistakes

These are mistakes we see across Virginia:

• waiting too long to print

• ordering too few palm cards

• relying on out of state printing during crunch time

• spending too much on swag and too little on essential materials

• forgetting that different regions vote differently and communicate differently

Northern Virginia tends to move faster and expects more digital communication. Hampton Roads voters respond strongly to community presence. Richmond requires consistency and visibility.

Your first campaign will teach you more than any guide can. But starting with a clear message, a small team, and reliable local resources, including Virginia-based printing, gives you a stronger foundation.

If you ask experienced candidates what they would change about their first run, most of them say the same thing: “I wish I had been prepared earlier.”

Start now. Stay grounded. And remember that your campaign materials tell your story long before you reach the door!