Thinking about running for a Council seat in 2029? Here are the 4 steps you should take now.

In the next five years many opportunities will arise to improve your electoral chances. Make sure to grab them. Here are the 4 things you should do right now. A bonus tip included for party members.

Although it’ll be years before your election posters will go up, you should start preparing now. As time passes certain, opportunities to advantage your chances for a successful campaign will pass too.

Early start is important because if you are a candidate of a migrant background your chances of being elected drop by 62%.

Factors contributing to this electoral disadvantage are diminished resources such as social networks, budget, and knowledge of electoral best strategies. Political violence motivated by racism undeniably plays a role too. However, those disadvantages are increased by lack of preparation and late campaign start.

People of a migrant background were overrepresented among last-moment candidates during the June 2024 local elections. 1 in 3 started their campaign less than three months before the polling day, and 1 in 7 did little preparation.

Learning from the previous experiences of election candidates of a migrant background can help in narrowing the 62% disadvantage gap. Here are the 4 things that you should do now to prepare yourself for the 2029 local elections in Ireland

1.      Join a campaign for a general elections candidate

Elections don’t happen often so the upcoming general elections may be the only opportunity for you to learn campaigning in practice. Make sure to use that chance. Find a candidate in your electoral area that you would be happy to support and get in touch. Trust me they need volunteers so your offer of help will be appreciated.

Here are key arguments why volunteering with another campaign is essential for a candidate of a migrant background.

A)     It gives understanding of Irish political culture. Many candidates who grew up in another political culture refrained from implementing electoral strategies that are key in the Irish context. 1 in 5 didn’t canvass believing it to be inappropriate or ineffective, although canvasing is still the backbone of elections in Ireland.

B)     It builds confidence. 1 in 5 candidates who didn’t canvass said it was due to a lack of confidence or knowledge of how to do it. Knocking at the door of potential voters can be daunting. Observing how experienced canvassers approach this task is the best way to break the canvassing anxiety.

C)    It develops your political profile. Canvassing in your electoral area will make you seen. People may remember your face. If you are considering running on a party mandate, canvassing with a party candidate will make you seen within the party ranks too.

2.      Join local community groups

Limited social resources were identified as one of the key barriers for candidates of a migrant background. Wide and deep social networks translate into recognition as a trusted member of the local community and a trusted election candidate. Your campaign team members and supporters who can give a hand with childcare or transport will be people you are connected to through various social groups and networks.

Candidates who were born in their electoral areas or who share ethnicity with the majority of voters possess social networks that were developed organically. Whereas candidates of a migrant background need to build those networks from scratch.

The earlier you start intentionally building your social networks the better. Make sure to join groups and associations outside your ethnic community. Voter registration rates amongst migrant communities are still very low. Check out your local Public Participation Network to learn what groups are active in your area and what are issues they are working on. Join them and start building your community profile.

3.      Give serious consideration to becoming a party member

I am not telling you that you should become a party member, but I am telling you to weigh all the pros and cons before making your decision. Election candidates of a migrant background were overrepresented among independent candidates. However all successfully elected candidates in that cohort were party nominees. Party membership requires compromise on some political issues but it also increases chances of electoral success.

Whatever decision you will take make sure to invest time reflecting on your options now. If you decide to run as a party nominee, you should register your membership within the next year. Most political parties will hold their candidate selection conventions in early 2028. Most parties have a minimum requirement of membership before qualifying for the selection convention. That membership requirement is usually 1-2 years.

There are benefits and disadvantages of running as a party nominee so make sure to gather enough knowledge about it to make an informed decision, which leads me to the next tip.

4.      Sign up for the Migrant Vote newsletter and podcast

I have spent over seven years developing my skills in migrant electoral mobilisation and exploring factors advancing or diminishing migrant leadership. I created the Migrant Vote platform to share my knowledge, and for it to be a resource for people wishing to take on political leadership roles.

You can already find resources that can support your electoral campaign design. Listen to role models such as Cllr Yemi Adenuga talking about finding her ‘Why?’ or Patrycja Lentowszczyk- Cichocka on building an election campaign team. Learn what advantages female candidates of a migrant background have or why migrant votes are important for any healthy democracy.

More resources and tips will be added so sign up to make sure you won’t miss out on them.

Bonus tip!

5.      Inform your party that you are interested in co-option

When a councillor seat becomes vacant for whatever reasons the political party of the outgoing councillor nominates their replacement. In each general election around 40-50 local councillors are elected to the Irish Parliament. In the next few weeks, there will be a significant number of vacant Council seats subject to co-options. Incumbency have instrumental value to any election campaign. In June 2024 10 out of 12 incumbent councillors of a migrant background were re-elected, including 3 who were co-opted to their first term. If you are already a party member and you are planning on running in 2029 talk to your party colleagues about the co-options.