Endorsements

Endorsement applications are currently closed for the 2024 Election Season. If you would like to still be considered, please reach out to kstomberg@workingfamilies.org

The Process

Pre-Support: Walking candidate through the process for support and providing early campaign guidance. -> Candidate fills out questionnaire and completes a vetting panle -> Candidate Coaching: Providing direct support in building a team, putting toget

Unlike many other organizations, we do more than just ask a few questions and then hand out a meaningless endorsement. Our process is more involved, though we also provide more in return.

We have three stages of support:

  • Pre-Support: Before we officially vet someone, we will still engage with them to let them know how the process works.

  • Coaching: After we have vetted someone, we will not immediately endorse, but will provide more direct support in getting them set up and providing them with resources and coaching.

  • Endorsement: Closer to the election, we will publicly endorse and begin hosting voter contact events for our endorsed candidates.

All candidates will go through a vetting process to make sure that they hold aligned values and will campaign effectively. The process is as follows:

  1. The candidate fills out our questionnaire and submits at https://wfpus.org/endorsement-application-submission.

  2. After the questionnaire is returned, a three-person panel made up of members of the vetting team will conduct a structured interview with the candidate.

  3. After the interview, the vetting team will vote on whether or not to recommend the candidate to join coaching.

  4. Closer to the election, the candidate support team can recommend a candidate for an endorsement, after which the State Committee will vote on whether or not to endorse.

If more than one person is running for the same seat, the vetting team will interview both and choose to move forward with one of them or neither of them. If one candidate is already in coaching when another candidate announces, the vetting team can consider the new candidate but only if they believe the new candidate has a chance of being better.

What We’re Looking For

Our goal is to find strong, grassroots-aligned candidates who are deeply rooted in their communities. In order to find those candidates we look for three general areas:

  • Values and Policy Stance Match - We generally support candidates who are aligned with our platform at WFP. Even if candidates do not know about every single policy that is being worked on in Delaware, their values should generally align.

  • Commitment and Capacity to Run - While we look for candidates who don’t come from traditionally wealthy backgrounds, it’s still important that they can put in the time and effort needed. If someone is not committed to running for office or if they don’t have the proper support network, it will be tough for them to successfully run a grassroots campaign.

  • Network and Community Connection - Connection with people in politics is a lot different than being connected to one's community. The best candidates are those who already have strong roots in the districts that they are running to represent. It also helps to have an existing social network that is willing to help out on the campaign through donating and volunteering.

If you’re interested in joining our candidate recruitment team, join one of our monthly candidate recruitment trainings!

Our Support

As a political party, we work with candidates in all stages of the campaign cycle and work to provide concrete support:

  • Candidate and Staffer Training - Throughout the year, we provide a number of one-time and recurring trainings aimed at teaching people the basics of running grassroots campaigns in Delaware. You can see our upcoming training sessions here. 

  • Regular Coaching and Support - Once we bring a candidate into coaching, we will meet with them and their team regularly to help them get started, set their goals, and navigate the various complexities of running a grassroots campaign.

  • Resources and Guides - From years of experience, we have created a library of resources, guides, and templates that we share with our coached and endorsed candidates.

  • Direct Voter Contact - After we officially endorse a candidate, we begin to host regular door knocking and phone banking events to bring DE-WFP volunteers out to directly engage the community about our candidates.

If you’re interested in joining our candidate recruitment team, join one of our monthly grassroots campaign trainings!