Introduction
Introduction: The Candidate’s Mission
Accepting Your Nomination
Part I: Deciding to Run
Next Steps After Acceptance
Part II: Building the Campaign
Building Your Campaign
Part III: Strategy and Budget
The US Worker Pledge
Part IV: Outreach and Media
The People’s Primary
Part V: Timeline and Survival
Part VI: Winning and Governing
Exploiting Major-Party Primaries
Clean Slate 28 Strategy
The 99-Cent Revolution
Movement Defense
Your Role in the 2029 Congress
Participants1
Chapter 3: Building Your Campaign Team and Structure
RandellHynes July 20, 2026
Chapter 3: Building Your Campaign Team and Structure
Lecture slides with audio narration — self-paced. Click “Launch Slides” to begin.
Read from the Book
- The full chapter text is included below on this page — scroll down to read.
- Candidate Survival Guide by Randell S. Hynes — Chapter 3
Take the Lesson
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Go to Team Chat
After reading and taking the lesson, join the discussion in the community.
Lecture Topics
- Core campaign roles: manager, treasurer, communications director, field director
- Volunteer recruitment and the grassroots organizing model
- Advisory board: policy experts, community leaders, and former elected officials
- Organizational chart for a congressional campaign
- When to hire staff vs. when to use volunteers
- The campaign manager selection process and what to look for
Discussion Section
Draw the organizational chart for your campaign. Which roles will be paid and which will be volunteer in the early stages? What qualities are you looking for in a campaign manager, and how does the grassroots model differ from a traditional consultant-driven campaign?
📖 Full Chapter Text
The complete chapter from the Candidate Survival Guide by Randell S. Hynes is included below for your reading.
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Building Your Campaign Team and Structure
A congressional campaign is a small business with a 18–24 month lifespan and a $500k–$2M+ budget. Structure it professionally but lean — especially if relying on small dollars. The Field Manual’s District Teams will provide volunteer muscle; your paid team executes strategy.
Core Team Roles (Start Small, Scale Up)
- Campaign Manager (Full-time, hire first): Your CEO. Oversees everything, manages staff/consultants, makes daily decisions. Look for experience in competitive races, preferably grassroots or insurgent. Salary: $6k–$12k/month + benefits.
- Finance Director / Treasurer (Critical): Builds and executes the small-dollar plan, manages compliance, donor database. Often the most important early hire. Can be part-time initially. Salary: $5k–$9k/month.
- Communications Director: Message, press, social, debate prep. Essential for earned media in a small-dollar campaign. Salary: $5k–$8k/month.
- Field Director (Hire mid-cycle): Voter contact, canvassing, phone banking, volunteer coordination. Coordinate closely with District Teams from the Field Manual. Salary: $5k–$8k/month.
- Digital Director: Website, email, SMS, social ads, online fundraising. The engine of the 99-Cent Revolution. Salary: $4k–$7k/month.
- Political / Endorsements Director (or combined role): Builds relationships with unions (worker-focused ones), community groups, electeds who align with the pledge. Critical for primary wins.
Consultants (as needed, not full-time): Media buyer, pollster, direct mail, data/analytics. Budget 10–20% of total spend. For small-dollar campaigns, prioritize digital and field over expensive TV early.
Start with 3–5 core people. Expand as fundraising allows. Use the District Teams for free/cheap volunteer labor — that’s the power of the movement.
Responses