Running for political office takes guts. On this journey, it’s vital to have both the training to run a strong campaign as well as the support network of fellow candidates who also understand what you are going through. We are inviting conservation-minded candidates who believe in protecting access to Idaho’s public lands, preserving clean air and water, and Idahoan’s right to vote to attend this training.
Conservation Voters for Idaho has a long history of training candidates running for office across Idaho, at all levels. In our 20th year as an organization, we have expanded our training program adding in an additional expertise through a facilitated support network of fellow candidates.
This program will run from June 27th, 2025 through Election Day 2025. It is tailored for candidates and elected officials running for office in 2025 or 2026 as well as their campaign staff.
This program is not exclusive to one party and meant to build a diverse coalition of candidates supporting Idaho values. Candidates who will seek to protect Idaho’s public land, clean water and air, and long standing right to vote are invited to apply.
Attendees will learn how to run a competitive, grassroots campaign that will succeed in challenging electoral environments at the municipal and state level. Topics from experts will include field plans, fundraising, organizing, messaging and more.
In addition to the strategies and tactics to run an effective campaign, a support network among candidates will be offered to candidates in this program. This enables candidates to learn from each other during the campaign cycle.
Crafted by two people who have run for office ourselves, we understand what running is like: it’s daring, vulnerable, includes the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. And, as an organization, CVI believes positive change happens most effectively when prepared and hardworking leaders are elected. If defending the natural environment and democracy are important to you, we invite you apply – whether it’s your first time running or your fifth.
During this two-day intensive, candidates and their team will get a robust training on the core aspects of running a campaign, including: fundraising and call time, door knocking best practices, campaign messaging, campaign plan drafting, compliance and finance reporting, and more. During this Saturday and Sunday kickoff, you will be learning from seasoned political campaign staff as well as elected officials.
Because a campaign is more than tactics and strategies, we are adding a holistic focus through a facilitated support network to our training program. During the months of July through November, you will receive opportunities to connect one on one with fellow candidates in the program, practice your stump speeches at a mock fundraising house party, and have the chance to host real joint campaign events with fellow candidates.
