This guest post is by Dani Parra del Riego and Nikita Leus-Oliva, two college students with experience working on political campaigns and other related activities.
Campaign internships are a great way for students to get direct exposure to politics, politicians, elections, and policy issues. But many students have questions about what these internships are and how to get them.
This post answers many common questions students have about the nuts and bolts of campaign internships, how to get them, and how to make the most of the experience. It also includes a handy list of resources at the end. If you have a question that's not addressed here, please email us and we'll try to reply and update the post!
You should also check out Blue Ripple's prior post about campaign internships, which is an introductory primer that covers similar topics.
A quick housekeeping note before we start: in political campaigns, “internships” and “fellowships” are pretty interchangeable. Don’t let the different words confuse you; unless otherwise specified by the campaign, you can assume they mean the same thing.
Are larger campaigns better than smaller campaigns for students?
tl;dr: Not necessarily! Big and small campaigns each have their pros and cons. Ask yourself what type of experience you want to have, and go from there.
Deciding whether to join a big or small campaign depends on what your focus is, what type of environment you find you work best in, and what you want to get out of your internship experience! While you may walk away with a breadth of experience after working on a small campaign, a large campaign could give you more depth of experience. The quality of your campaign experience depends more on team culture than the size, and regardless of what you’re looking to do, you will have opportunities to make genuine connections with those who you work with. Both offer you the opportunity to build relationships with people you will likely continue to interact with should you decide to continue in the political world afterwards.
Local campaigns (county commissioners, school board representatives, state senators and representatives, etc.) tend to be tight-knit groups of people with a deep understanding of the community and the issues facing it. As an intern on a local campaign, you’re likely to know every team member by name! Given the more intimate nature of small campaigns, candidates themselves usually have an abundance of interaction with their campaign staff, interns, and volunteers. It’s not uncommon to see the candidate at a canvass launch or sitting across the table from you as you call voters! Though they may require more organizing on your end, you’ll get to know the community and its members more intimately. For example, if you’re passionate about education, School Board races will allow you to become well-acquainted with education policy and create space for you to connect with leaders in your community fighting for issues you care about. You’re also likely to have opportunities to do a wide variety of tasks on a small campaign. You might be helping the organizing team one day by training volunteers to make calls, and the finance team another day by doing donor research. If you are looking to learn about all facets of a campaign or are unsure exactly what you’re interested in, local campaigns could be a good starting point for you!
On the other hand, large campaigns (think presidential and state-wide campaigns, like U.S. senators and governors, or efforts to amend state constitutions) provide a great opportunity to contribute to a large movement, and you’re likely to gain a lot of experience within a particular field of campaigning. Because large campaigns are very structured, they usually offer internships that are department-specific, which can include Finance, Data, Communications, Operations, and most commonly, Field/Organizing. If you’re someone who has an interest or background in these fields (including outside of politics!) and are looking to contribute to a campaign, consider combining your passions by pursuing a field-specific internship. Interns on large campaigns are typically well-versed in their departments– after being an organizing intern/fellow, for example, you likely have gained the skills that equip you to be a field organizer. Internships in large campaigns may also give you a chance to network with more staff, which could be beneficial for future employment opportunities.
How do I choose a candidate with whom I’d like to intern?
tl;dr: Follow your interests, which also means understanding what environment is best for you.
There are a few important things to consider when choosing a campaign.
First, before even researching specific opportunities, reflect on why you want to get involved in politics. Do you have a specific cause you are passionate about? Is there something in your community you would change? Are you passionate about advocacy? Find what moves you; better understanding your motives will help you as you navigate the political world and will allow you to stay true to your mission. This will help you decide whether working for a candidate whose views you share would be more in line with your mission, or whether a specific issue-oriented advocacy group would be more effective, or whether you just want to learn more about how campaigns work!
Then, become acquainted with the candidates and their policies. If you want to focus on a particular geographic area, like the elections for officials to represent your hometown, then resources like Common Cause can provide you with direct contact information for each elected representative in your area, and Ballotpedia can help you find out who has declared their candidacy for each office’s election. For any region you’re exploring, spend time doing research on the town, county, region, and state. Community newspapers may offer detailed insights into specific representatives, but don’t shy away from social media platforms such as Twitter to get more insights into the work incumbents have done and the positions the challengers are taking.
One thing to keep in mind is the political context of a particular region and electoral race. For example, in an overwhelmingly blue district, where the current elected officials are Democrats and likely to stay that way for the time being, you could choose to work for a challenger who is more aligned with your views than the incumbent. (This situation might arise if you’re looking for internships in the spring and early summer, before primaries are completed (see later discussion).) Primaries for Progress publishes a newsletter that highlights deep-blue districts where an incumbent moderate is being challenged by someone who’s further to the left.
Your list of prospects may be quite long and diverse. You may find yourself deciding between applying to help a candidate during the primary round or during the general election race, or considering whether to work for a well-established incumbent or a promising challenger. While these factors will all affect your experience, the bottom line is that you can have an interesting and worthwhile experience on any campaign, and these details probably don’t matter so much in the big picture. And, it is also a good idea to identify multiple candidates and opportunities you’d like to pursue, as you’re more likely to find a good fit with a wider range of targets.
Should I only consider campaign internships with my own local elected representatives?
tl;dr: Not necessarily!
Interning with a campaign that is active in your hometown has several advantages. First, it can be exciting and energizing to help elect someone who will actually represent you. And second, it might be convenient (and cheap!) for you to live at home while working on the campaign.
But you don’t have to restrict yourself to candidates in your own local area. If, through your research, you find a candidate whose vision truly speaks to you, but they are not your representative, don’t be afraid to consider that opportunity as well! Especially with the rise in opportunities for virtual and remote work, there are many ways for you to find a position in a campaign you are passionate about, even if the candidate isn’t geographically close to you.
How do I get connected to campaign internship opportunities?
tl;dr: Search far and wide! You’ll find opportunities through your school, general job boards, campaign/party specific sites, and maybe even through your own personal connections.
Campaigns are almost always looking for more help – chances are, they need you! However, it may be challenging to find ways to get connected and even more daunting to reach out to build these connections. If you’re completely new to the political world and want to get a better feel for the community, apps and platforms such as TurnUp allow you to connect with groups and find specific issue-based events. Websites like Indeed or Handshake are also great resources to find jobs.
If your college has a Democrats club, or something like it, see if they could be helpful. Postings for political internships are regularly sent to organizations like these, and yours may have an email listserv, Facebook group, etc., where they pass opportunities along to members. Also, some of the group’s members may have worked for campaigns previously and have tips about ones that have yielded good experiences. Your school’s career center may also be a useful resource if you’re looking for advocacy/issue based positions, though they typically won’t post opportunities that are explicitly partisan, like campaigns.
Once you’ve identified specific campaigns and opportunities you’d like to pursue, you should also check out the candidate’s website. Typically, there will be an area where opportunities to join the campaign are listed, though this may vary depending on the size of the campaign. You should also take a look at your local and/or state party’s website. Campaigns are sometimes run through the party itself (this is particularly common for large campaigns) and state parties regularly promote opportunities to get involved with Democratic campaigns.
If you’ve done any other political work previously, reach out to the people you worked with and let them know what type of roles you’re looking for– they may have an opportunity lined up for you, and this is good practice since it gives them a heads up in case you’re looking to use them as a reference (though the vast majority of campaign internships will not require any references). Don’t shy away from attending political events, particularly ones hosted by campaigns or organizations you’re interested in working with, and meet people there! Making a good impression on the right person can take you a long way.
Is there an ideal time to reach out to campaigns for internships?
tl;dr: It’s always a good time, but earlier is generally better.
It doesn’t necessarily matter when you reach out to campaigns, but it is never a bad idea to reach out earlier rather than later! The earlier you start, the more time you’ll have to develop skills and build relationships, and the more responsibilities will be given to you. Campaigns see exponential growth in operations as election day approaches, and the need for help grows proportionally.
You should note that some positions will have application deadlines. Because campaigns have a hard end date and there is always a lot of work to do, they tend to be very fast-paced environments, and you’ll see quick turnaround times on applications. It’s useful to look for opportunities a few weeks out, but don’t be surprised by postings that seem last-minute.
What’s the best time to be a campaign intern: in the summer or during the school year?
tl;dr: They’re both great – it’s up to you!
Many students take campaign internships that run during the summer, with the option to extend into the early fall and sometimes to Election Day if one’s schedule permits, but this timeline isn’t set in stone. Even when school interferes with campaigning, campaigns view some work as better than no work, and supervisors are often very flexible with adjusting your schedule around your commitments. So if you want to get involved part-time during the spring, you should definitely ask! (Some large campaigns have very structured internships and fellowships with dates that line up with school semesters.)
It’s important to understand how your planned internship fits with election dates. Campaigns that are competing in primaries often work toward a June election day, and expand their operations in the spring. General campaigns with a typical November e-day usually ramp up their internship programs in late summer and fall. So if you’re looking to get involved over the summer, you’d most likely be working towards the primary election. But if you have the time before the semester ends, getting involved early on a part-time basis allows for you to become more acquainted with the campaign and creates more time for you to be actively involved. It also means that, should your candidate advance to the general election, you have an easier path to more responsibilities if that’s something you’re considering.
Regardless of when you get involved, campaigns are always looking for help in various capacities up to Election Day. As you discuss logistics with a potential campaign, set clear expectations about your schedule, and keep an open channel to communicate as your internship progresses.
What’s the day-to-day of being a campaign intern like?
tl;dr: Beginners often start in the field, but you’ll almost always have chances to expand your role!
Your first campaign job will typically focus on interacting with voters (aka “field” or “organizing”). This may include phone banking, canvassing, and attending events. These tasks may sometimes feel menial, but they make up the heart of the campaign! Any good campaign will have a robust plan in place to reach voters, and this vision can’t be realized without interns and volunteers doing the work. Campaigns are also forced to shift their priorities quickly and accurately, taking new information into account, in order to make the most out of our efforts. Especially leading up to Election Day, every day could be different. Interacting with voters offers you invaluable insights and experiences, and you will gain transferable skills and confidence that will be tremendous assets, regardless of what career path you ultimately pursue.
Especially in your first campaign job, you should try to learn as much as possible, meet tons of people, and remain open to opportunities that might develop while you’re there. If you find yourself becoming interested in the communication side of the campaign, for example, ask if you can be connected to someone who works with the campaign’s social media to learn more about their role. The same can be said about roles related to policy, press, finance, and more. Do not be afraid to respectfully ask for ways you can help in areas where you have interests or skills. At the very least, you’ll learn more about the different roles on campaigns, and make invaluable connections that may lead you to your next opportunity!
Can I get paid as a campaign intern?
tl;dr: Unpaid positions are easier to find, but there are definitely paid positions and other opportunities you can take advantage of for compensation!
After you have specific campaigns and opportunities targeted, consider whether compensation is important to you. While being compensated is a large consideration for some, these opportunities may or may not be less available. Especially if you are just starting off and can afford to volunteer, you may have an easier time joining the campaign world if you are not seeking compensation. Regardless of your situation, stand your ground, and you will most likely find an opportunity that works for you!
During the application and/or onboarding process, you may also discuss compensation if it wasn’t specified on the job opening. There are many factors such as campaign scale and your specific role that will affect how much you are being offered. Organized campaigns will be straightforward with how much they are able to offer and whether the pay is based on hours worked, doors knocked, or a flat stipend. Especially with mid-sized and larger progressive campaigns, you can find that sometimes you will be offered anywhere from $10-$15 an hour, though payment typically has more to do with the scale of the campaign than anything else.
If you’re a university student, many schools offer stipends to support folks who take unpaid summer internships. While this depends on your school’s resources, check out the career center for details. Local community organizations and politically-oriented student groups like your college Democrats are also great resources for ideas on how to get funding.
Finally, we’ve listed a few specific resources for paid opportunities below in the “resources” section. Check ‘em out!
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Overall, being a campaign intern can be an extremely rewarding experience, and it can lead to many great opportunities down the road. You will come out of the experience with invaluable knowledge and a better understanding of what the political world is like. Take advantage of the connections you make, and make the most of your time there!
If you have other questions about campaign internships that aren’t answered here, please email us. We’ll try to answer your queries and post the answers so others can learn as well!
Resources for prospective campaign interns
This informal guide explains many campaign terms and concepts that can help you in your transition period into an internship.
EMILY’s List highlights pro-choice women running for office at all levels, which could be helpful when choosing who you would like to work for.
The DCCC highlights house districts that are highly competitive, if you would like to work on a competitive race.
Blue Ripple’s blog is dedicated to identifying opportunities for involvement, as well as producing data-driven analysis to highlight specific races that need help. Check us out!
Rising college sophomores, juniors, and seniors from or studying in North Carolina should check out We are Democracy NC’s summer program where students are trained on fields related to campaigning, which includes a stipend.
NYC high school students can apply for paid campaign internships through Rep The Future. (Read our interview with RTF’s founder here.)
Blue Future often sponsors paid opportunities to help Dems get elected nationwide and gain valuable organizing and leadership skills. (Look under the “Get Involved” tab.)