Post Election loss, Important Factors to keep in mind.

Community Magazine May 16, 2023 in Politics - 3 Minutes

Losing an hard-fought election can be a humbling and agonizing experience, but it’s a reality that we can’t shy away from in an highly competitive election like the 2023 general election.

Worthy of note, from Buhari, Seyi Makinde, and Adeleke to Sarafadeen Ali to mention a few, all were once losing candidates who were able to rebound and attain their desired offices. Seyi Makinde was an especially persistent candidate, losing a campaign at least once for every office he ever sought.

That’s where history shows us vanquished candidates who quickly regroup, remain relevant, and focus their efforts toward the next race can be successful and the key to making that happen is continuing to engage followers after an unsuccessful run.

Here are two things to keep in mind.

Never leave your support base.

The amount of time and resources a campaign dedicates to building a
base and volunteers apparatus has a monumental value, so why then do many candidates just walk away? Savvy candidates recognizes the assets they have built and the value in the data their campaigns have collected as a leverage for the future election.

A tough race that leads to defeat is not the end of the line. Identify a down-ballot candidate where your assets will make an impact. Mobilize your volunteer base, and play a key role as a trusted ally, and most importantly public show of support for such candidate. The win may not be directly yours, but the ability to remain relevant and prove you’re part of the ongoing political conversation is a key to longevity in the political sphere.

Run again.

It’s perceived that every year campaign season begins earlier than it did the previous cycle, and that’s because it does. In today’s hyper-political environment, a candidate rarely ever leaves the campaign trail.

Don’t be afraid to announce your intentions to run again following a recent loss. I wouldn’t recommend starting your field operations two years out from an election, but there are benefits to organizing a dedicated base of volunteers and funders who truly believe in your candidacy.

Maintaining an active email list, a presence on social media streams, and making yourself part of the public debate when key issues arise are all tactics recently defeated candidates should employ to maintain a presence in the public consciousness.

Losing could be heart-wrenching, but history shows us that an unsuccessful campaign isn’t the end of a political career. Preeminent candidates control their political future by harnessing the ability to remain relevant. Maintaining your campaign’s base of financial and grassroots support are tactical maneuvers to keep you in the game even after a defeat.