Running for office is a tumultuous task.

Psychology teacher Mrs. Sandy James ran for District 58 state representative. This was her first campaign for a major office. She shared some insights on the process of getting on the ballot for the primary and general elections.

“I was approached by the Johnson County Democrats, and they asked me to run. They thought that people would recognize my name, especially since I’ve been in the public-school system for 34 years,” Mrs. James said.

She utilized social media during her campaign to spread awareness to certain issues.

“I spent a lot of time on Tik Tok talking about what I believed in, and I showed it when I was endorsed by a group and made posts about my beliefs,” Mrs. James said.

She ran this campaign with the help of many volunteers; they went out on the weekends and knocked on doors, helped with literature, and spread the word.

“Mostly social media, former students, former students’ parents, Tik Tok Instagram, Facebook, and people also approached me and offered to help,” Mrs. James said.

She ran a well-organized and spirited campaign but ultimately fell short to Michelle Davis.

Not just people running for office make elections happen, there are many people behind the scenes of campaigns and county parties who help the machine run. Johnson County Republican Chairwoman Beth Boyce is one of the cogs in the machine.

“We knocked on around 9,000 doors, sent around 30,000 pieces of direct mail, and 45,000 text messages, and we also hosted all kinds of different events. We held rallies to engage voters all around the county. Individual candidates also hosted events to raise money and spread word about their campaigns,” Mrs. Boyce said.

Social media is a big influence in many voters’ decisions and candidates and county parties utilize social media in different ways.

“We utilize Facebook and Instagram to announce events, showcase the work we do, and encourage others to join us. We also encourage people to join our email list. We can invite, share, and spread the word about the party,” she said.

Even small counties across the country can make change, and when voters come to polls, they can express their desire for change.

“The voters across the country spoke clearly about their ideas, and made change. We are also looking forward to new leadership across our state,” Mrs. Boyce said.

Chairwoman Boyce gave one piece of advice for voters, new and old.

“Vote! They can research their candidates and engage with candidates, attend local events, meet candidates, and overall call for change by voting,” she said.

District 58 State Representative Michelle Davis ran in the general election this year and shared the importance of being engaged with the community.

“It is keeping the constituents active and engaged during the entire year; therefore, it keeps the importance of voting in the minds of people that I interact with. Staying and being engaged in the community is key,” she said.

Mrs. Davis ran a strong campaign and could not have done it without the help of volunteers, friends, and family.

“For volunteers, I usually ask friends and family members. But also, this time since I have been in office a couple of years and know more people, some people offer to help if I ever need anything. And since it was a presidential year, there are a lot of Republicans that offer to help other Republicans running for office,” she said.

Spreading info about your campaign is important, and Davis used many different outlets, but also relied on this election being so important to so many people.

“With this being a presidential election again, more people were engaged and interested in the direction of the nation, state, and local elections. I just stayed true to what I stand for and who I am. Staying active on social media and door knocking and remaining open to discussions,” Mrs. Davis said.