Sharing Campaign Knowledge for the 2026 Municipal Election
Written by: Brendon Samuels @ London United for Change
There’s a distinct buzz in London these days, the sort of energy that only comes around once every four years: we’re in an election year! Across our city, people are starting to organize for the campaign process leading up to the municipal election on October 26. With a lot riding on this election, now is a critical time for prospective soon-to-be candidates for City Council and their campaign teams to start planning…
Running for office is no small task. It takes funding, strategy, dedicated people and careful organization. Before the campaign period officially begins in May, prospective candidates and campaign volunteers supporting them ought to develop a solid understanding of the work that lies ahead. Some campaigns have the advantage of incumbents or campaign workers bringing previous experience, knowledge, skills and resources, especially in terms of our local London context. Others who are new to politics may face a steeper hill to climb in starting their campaign, with more to figure out in the coming months.
I believe that this disparity between political insiders and newcomers can be lessened through strategic sharing of information and relationship building. We can level the playing field to make election campaign planning more fair, equitable and inviting for anyone motivated to drive change through our democratic process. By identifying in advance what and who will need to be involved in running an effective campaign, fresh faces in politics can have a stronger chance to compete. This includes more diverse, representative voices who might not otherwise find the confidence to run.
I volunteer with a grassroots, nonpartisan group of Londoners called London United for Change. We are interested in bringing about greater participation in local politics and supporting strong campaigns that aim to meaningfully address challenges in our city. To that end, we are providing folks interested in putting their name on a ballot, or supporting a campaign, with free access to programming, training and community. In partnership with Pillar Nonprofit Network, and previously with the Urban League of London, we are bringing together perspectives and knowledge from across sectors, political stripes, and multiple generations of London politics to share with anyone who will listen.
Over the first quarter of this year, we are offering a three-part series of nonpartisan training sessions dedicated to preparing candidates and campaign workers for the municipal election. Each session features an invited guest speaker, an interactive workshop concentrating on developing key skills for a campaign, and an opportunity to mingle with other participants.
The sessions, held in-person at Innovation Works downtown, are also recorded and shared openly online afterwards along with slides containing hyperlinks to relevant resources for follow-up reading. As the host of these sessions, I approach the work with a sense of duty and in the spirit of generosity: “Candidate School” is our collective gift to the next generation of London’s political organizers and leaders!
Our first session held in January was all about the pre-campaign period. We highlighted a variety of data sources and tools that can support campaign planning. We heard from former London City Councillor Sandy Levin about campaign essentials, and from local graphic designer and educator James Kingsley about workshopping campaign branding. You can watch the session on YouTube.
The Slide Deck for the first session can be found her: Candidate School Session 1 Slide Deck
The Municipal Campaign Planning Template Can be found here: Municipal Campaign Planning Template
Our second session is coming up on February 17 and will focus on what to know for during the campaign, touching on topics such as canvassing, fundraising and all-candidates meetings. We will discuss some common issues and tricky subjects that candidates are likely to face, and how to respond to them.
Finally, our third session March 17 will conclude the series with a focus on making the transition after the campaign to the role of City Councillor, exploring the demands of the job, and how to stay grounded and connected to our values and communities.
A campaign is built around one candidate’s name put forward to lead. While the work can be isolating, campaigns are far from solitary affairs. To pull one off, candidates must surround themselves with capable supporters who undertake a variety of roles. They need to get out into the community and speak with residents, especially prospective voters, to understand their points of view and how they can be effectively represented.
Fundamentally, candidates run campaigns against one another. They compete with rivals, each of whom are vying for the same seat at the City Council table. These rivalries may seem adversarial on the surface, but they can also bring opportunities to build community and friendships that transcend competition. In communicating openly with one another, candidates and their supporters may find they can learn, share and grow together; they can also understand better how to develop their own campaign strategy, and how to distinguish their voice from the rest.
I hope you will join us at our upcoming sessions in February or March. Remember to register online! To learn more about London United for Change and get involved, visit our website at londonunitedforchange.ca
About Pillar Nonprofit Network
Pillar Nonprofit Network is a regional nonprofit intermediary organization serving nonprofits, charities, and social enterprises across Southwestern Ontario. Pillar strengthens the sector through advocacy, shared knowledge, and capacity-building initiatives, while promoting equity through collaboration and advancing systems change. To learn more about Pillar Nonprofit Network, please visit www.pillarnonprofit.ca.
