2026 Campaign Plan

Background

Most towns have elections in the first half of the year. Massachusetts legislative elections are November 3rd, 2026.

Objectives

Identify and train our candidates for the 2026 elections. Help them to:

• setup their campaign
• identify and train their campaign staff
• identify and train volunteers
• get on the ballot
• fundraise
• identify supporters
• get supporters to the polls (GOTV)

Campaigns

There will be three types of campaigns:

1. Those that identify supporters and get them to the polls
2. Those that organize campaign events (standouts, etc.)
3. Those that meet the minimum requirements:
   1. get on the ballot
   2. meet with media to talk about their campaign
   3. attend any debates

We will encourage candidates to choose a campaign that will have the highest degree of success based on the available time.

Time line

2025 Q3

• 2025/07/15 - schedule organizer check-ins through September
• 2025/07/15 - start outreach to organizers, candidates & volunteers
• 2025/07/20 - have all all voter records
  • We have voters in 221 municipalities
  • We have lists from 93 municipalities
  • We need lists from 128 municipalities
• 2025/08/01 - initial outreach to organizers & candidates
• 2025/08/01 - schedule organizer check-ins through October
• 2025/08/15 - initial outreach to volunteers
• 2025/09/01 - schedule organizer check-ins through November
• 2025/09/15 - candidate (org/vol) pep talk & regional organizing meetings

2025 Q4

• 2025/10/01 - schedule organizer check-ins through December
• 2025/10/15 -
• 2025/11/01 - schedule organizer check-ins through February 2026
• 2025/11/15 - Have identified all candidates
• 2025/11/30 - Have started candidate training
• 2025/11/30 - 1st town nom papers available
• 2025/12/01 - schedule organizer check-ins through May 2026

2026 Q1

• 2026/01/01 - schedule organizer check-ins through June
• 2026/02/01 - schedule organizer check-ins through July
• 2026/02/15 - State nomination papers available
• 2026/03/01 - schedule organizer check-ins through August

2026 Q2

• 2026/04/01 - schedule organizer check-ins through September
• 2026/04/30 - State nomination papers due
• 2026/05/01 - schedule organizer check-ins through October
• 2026/05 - write a how to govern guide - A pirates guide to local government
• 2026/06/01 - schedule organizer check-ins through November
  • How to govern mentoring (State)
  • How to govern mentoring (town)
• 2026/06 - Post signature gathering and candidate conference

2026 Q3

• 2026/07/01 - schedule organizer check-ins through December
• 2026/08/01 - schedule organizer check-ins through January 2027
• 2026/09/01 - schedule organizer check-ins through February 2027
• 2026/09 - Primary Election

2026 Q4

• 2026/10/01 - schedule organizer check-ins through March 2027
• 2026/? - Mail in voting starts
• 2026/? - Early voting starts
• 2026/? - Last day to register to vote
• 2026/11/01 - schedule organizer check-ins through April 2027
• 2026/11/03 - General Election
• 2026/12/01 - schedule organizer check-ins through May 2027

Notes

write a how to run guide contact people who wanted to be candidates contact people who wanted to organized their communities

what would you like from us to succeed

what are the opportunities we want to present to volunteers

Massachusetts local government guide guide to town meeting - state/election doc local government / town FAQ

Issues housing/local government/transparency/surveillance/accountabillity