What is your
Hardball Strategy?
We build high-tempo strategies and campaign playbooks designed to keep you ahead of the competition. Because slow campaigns don’t win — they hand victories to the other side.
The Cost of your Competitor’s Blind Spot is Your Victory
In elections, challengers rarely lose for lack of funding. They lose because they run without a strategy. Disorganization, lack of urgency, blindness to voters’ needs, or following the wrong plan typically costs them the race.
Most challengers start campaigns without the full knowledge of what it takes to win. The hazard of not knowing what to do is spending huge amounts of money, burning through favors from friends and family, and falling short. The candidate may have worked hard, but they likely missed dong just one or two things that could’ve placed them in the winner’s circle.
Over the last 10 years, I have tested and quantified quirks that are unique to local races. And, my track record of eroding what’s known as the “incumbency advantage” is unmatched.
The key is focusing on fundamentals, not shortcuts, and leveraging blind spots to control the conversation. I train campaign teams to master the ‘fog of war.‘ The result is a disciplined, yet flexible, playbook — built from hard-earned experience.
What is an Incumbent Candidate?
An incumbent is the current officeholder, the person already in the seat you’re running for. Incumbents usually start with big advantages: name recognition, donor networks, and built-in media attention. But it’s not just sitting politicians who carry this weight. Former officeholders, staffers, and even the spouses of current or past elected officials often benefit from quasi-incumbency — the same political networks and advantages that come with holding office. That’s why challengers need a sharper strategy and a faster campaign tempo to compete and win.
How this Platform Helps Local Candidates
Strategy
Building a Team
Building the Voter Network
Communication
Avoiding Pitfalls and Landmines
Build Momentum Quick with Highly Targeted Voter Lists
Advanced voter lists help campaigns spend less, work smarter, and reach the right people faster. It’s one of the biggest advantages a challenger can have — especially when going up against a well-connected incumbent.
These lists go beyond basic voter registration. They help identify likely supporters, highlight high-turnout voters, and show campaigns exactly where to focus their time and resources. With the right data, campaigns can move more efficiently and make smarter decisions across the board.
Advanced voter lists provide:
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Smarter Field Operations
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Personalized Messaging
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Stronger Fundraising
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Faster Momentum Building
Get the Data Advantage Your Opponent Wishes They Had
We equip candidates with advanced voter intelligence that most campaigns can only dream of. Our custom-built data tools and proprietary AI models give you a clear edge — from smarter canvassing lists to precision-targeted marketing strategies.
Imagine knowing how a precinct will impact your campaign before you spend a single dollar or knock on a door. Below is a breakdown of voter turnout and Republican registration by generation — all from just one precinct. Now picture having this kind of insight for every precinct in New Hanover County. That’s the kind of firepower we bring to your campaign.
(Below) Click image to enlarge.
Click image below to enlarge.
Power of Advanced Messaging Systems
With wireframing and prototyping services, Sarah helps map out the structure and user flow of your website or application. The process includes creating detailed wireframes and interactive prototypes, giving you a clear vision of how the final product will function.
On-going Monthly Support
Unlimited requets
Average 24-48 hours in delivery
Design Requests
Monthly reports
Monthly reports
Custom Projects
Got something special in mind? Let’s make it happen!
A Solid Playbook is Your Victory
Strategy
Local elections are often decided by razor-thin margins, sometimes just a handful of votes. That is why every detail matters. Cutting corners on your campaign strategy can undo weeks of hard work on election day. Success does not come from one big moment but from steady, deliberate effort: one handshake, one donation, one conversation at a time. In races this close, no effort is truly neutral. The right move at the right time can push you across the finish line, while the wrong effort or a poorly timed one can undermine everything.
Every donor brings influence, about 44 votes on average, and every volunteer will bring in over 100 votes. That’s why it’s critical to seize every chance to grow support and outperform your opponent in every effort.
No one wins a campaign by winging it. Successful candidates build a plan based on understanding what voters expect, the hard numbers it takes to win, and assembling a strong team to execute it. Without a plan, campaigns are just guessing — and guesswork doesn’t win elections.
For challengers, strategy isn’t just important — it’s survival. Incumbents start with massive advantages. They have established donor networks, seasoned volunteers, and name recognition. Their brand is already built.
Challengers have to start from zero. They need to build everything: fundraising pipelines, voter support, and visibility, all while racing the clock. A smart strategy helps prioritize what to build first, who to target, and how to use limited time and resources effectively. It means knowing which voters are persuadable, which issues matter most, and where the incumbent is weak. Without a focused plan, a challenger risks spinning their wheels while the incumbent cruises.
That’s where we come in. We help candidates map out a winning strategy, so every move counts with no wasted time or money.
Building a Team
Challengers don’t just need staff. They need the right staff. Every role must be clearly defined, from communications to field organizing to volunteer coordination. But it’s not just about filling positions. A winning campaign depends on a team that works in sync, with each part of the operation choreographed like a well-oiled machine.
We train candidates to build teams that perform. We’ll help define roles, train your people, and ensure the entire operation runs in unison.
Building the Network
A challenger’s network isn’t just a contact list. It’s the campaign’s engine. That network includes different types of supporters: donors who provide financial fuel, volunteers who work the ground game, donor-volunteers who do both, and everyday voters who spread the word.
Unlike incumbents, challengers must build their political network from scratch. That means showing up everywhere they can: speaking at community events, hosting fundraisers, and making personal connections wherever whenever possible. Every handshake, conversation, and local appearance helps build the support needed to power the campaign.
We help candidates build that network from day one. We guide campaigns on where to show up, who to engage, and how to turn every interaction into lasting support.
Communication
First, there is external communication. This includes the website, social media, speeches, and visual branding, all working together to create a recognizable identity. The website should serve as the central hub for campaign information, donations, and volunteer sign-ups. A public style guide makes it easy for supporters and partner groups to access approved logos and brand assets so they can promote the candidate at fundraisers and events without going off-brand.
Then there is the candidate themselves, because the candidate is the message. What you say, and how you say it, must reflect your true positions and beliefs. Voters can always tell when a candidate is authentic versus just telling people what they want to hear. The challenge is knowing how to adjust your delivery for large audiences versus small gatherings without ever compromising who you are or what you stand for.
Next, there is internal communication. Every team member should know exactly where to find essential tools like flyers, logos, and messaging guides. When communication breaks down, teams get fatigued, time gets wasted, and that fatigue can quietly sabotage even the most promising campaign.
We help candidates build both sides of their communication strategy to ensure public messaging is sharp and internal operations stay aligned.
Avoiding Pitfalls and Landmines
Candidate discipline is everything. Without it, even the best strategy can fall apart. First-time candidates are especially vulnerable to pitfalls that can derail their efforts.
- Party Politics: Parties have their own agendas and may not back you, especially in crowded races. Discipline means knowing when to align with them and when to stand firm.
- Misusing Campaign Funds: Campaign money isn’t personal money. Spending it improperly can spark scandal or lead to legal trouble.
- Straying Off-Message: Talking outside of what voters view as reasonable or ignoring their concerns damages credibility.
- Opposition Traps: The other side will set traps. Disciplined candidates stay focused, avoid distractions, and don’t take the bait.
Serious About Winning? The Path to Victory Starts Here
We train candidates to stay disciplined in both words and actions, because one wrong move can cost the entire race.
We’ve built a very high success track record of electing local candidates, including those the Republican Party didn’t initially support. Our system works because it’s not cookie-cutter. We provide the canvas, but the candidate shapes the image the electorate needs to see and will be motivated to vote for.