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Questions to Ask Candidates Running for Office
A collection of questions to ask candidates at forums and other events. This document is a work in progress.
Overview of Questions
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Goals / Vision
17
What are the most pressing issues in the office you are seeking?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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What are your goals for the office?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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What do you plan to accomplish in your first 30 days? In your first 90 days?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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What do you see as the [name of elected office]’s primary role?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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What do you think is the most important skill of being a good [INSERT NAME OF POSITION]?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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Assess the recent performance of the [INSERT NAME OF OFFICE] and, if elected, would you keep it on the same direction or change course?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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What is biggest need of the [INSERT NAME OF POSITION] now and what would you do to fill that need?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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Given existing budget constraints, how would you would stretch taxpayer dollars and still [INSERT GOAL, example: OFFER SERVICES, DETER CRIME, ETC]?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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What is the number one crime related issue that needs an immediate plan of action from the next [POSITION]?
Sheriff
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How can we hire the best? How do we attract really good applicants?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
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What would you say the [INSERT POSITION NAME] position entails?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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How would you describe your management style?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
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What are your top three legislative priorities if elected to the [Position]?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How do you plan to address income inequality and promote economic growth in your district?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What measures will you support to combat climate change and promote environmental sustainability?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How will you work to improve access to quality healthcare and affordable education in your [geographic area]?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What steps will you take to support small businesses and encourage job creation in your district?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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About the Candidate
16
Why are you running? (Why did you decide to run?)
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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Why should voters cast their ballot for you?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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Why are you the best person for the job?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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What distinguishes you from other candidates?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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Describe an ethical dilemma you’ve faced. How did you resolve it?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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How would you maintain and safely store your firearm?
Sheriff
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What endorsements have you received?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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How are you funding your campaign?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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What civic organizations or non-profits have you been an active member of in recent years?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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What distinguishes you from the other candidates?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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How do your personal values and beliefs align with your policy positions?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What life experiences have shaped your worldview and influenced your decision to run for [Position]?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How do you plan to engage with and be accountable to your constituents while in office?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What steps are you taking to ensure your campaign is inclusive and represents the diverse perspectives within your district?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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Can you share a personal story or experience that highlights your commitment to public service?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How do you plan to support small businesses and entrepreneurs in creating jobs and stimulating economic growth?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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Experience
10
Describe your experience.
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
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Have you ever held public office before? If so, what, where and when?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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What experience do you have with large budgets? How are you equipped to handle a budget as large as {INSERT INFORMATION ON BUDGET SIZE]?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
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What job experience do you have?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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Do you have previous political experience? Have you run for or ever held elected office?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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How have you dealt with challenges in past positions?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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How has your professional background prepared you for a role in the [Position]?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What specific legislative experience do you have that will be beneficial in the [Position]?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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Can you provide examples of successful bipartisan collaboration in your past work or political experience?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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Describe a time when you had to compromise on a policy issue. How did you navigate this situation?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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Position
44
What’s your position on judicial activism?
District Attorney
Sheriff
Judge
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When becoming a judge, which is more important: the number of cases you’ve handled as an attorney or the type of cases you’ve handled?
Judge
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How will you handle increasing mental health and substance abuse calls?
Sheriff
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School shootings have parents, school districts, and law enforcement agencies looking for ways to ensure schools are always safe. What plans do you have when it comes to school safety? What policies would you enact and why?
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
District Attorney
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How will you work to make officers better suited to handle individuals with mental illnesses?
Sheriff
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Do you think incarceration rates are too high or too low in our area? How would you work to keep incarceration rates down?
District Attorney
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Would you be willing to open the {INSERT SPECIFIC POLICY, BUDGET, OR OTHER MEANINGFUL ITEM} to the Public?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
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What’s the number one challenge facing the next [INSERT POSITION] when it comes to management of the department and working with [INSERT OTHER OFFICE, like CITY COUNCIL or COUNTY BOARD]?
District Attorney
Sheriff
Mayor
City Council
School Board
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How can the [INSERT POSITION] have an impact on the opioid and drug problem in the region?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
Mayor
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Should [INSERT NAME OF REGION] be a sanctuary [INSERT TYPE OF REGION, like CITY or COUNTY]?
City Council
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How would you pick your staff?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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How would you handle a situation if a subordinate was believed to have committed a crime?
District Attorney
Sheriff
City Council
School Board
Mayor
Judge
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What is your stance on comprehensive immigration reform, and how do you plan to address this issue in Congress?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How would you balance national security interests with protecting individual privacy and civil liberties?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What are your views on campaign finance reform and the role of money in politics?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How do you propose addressing the issue of gun control and gun violence in the United States, while considering the specific concerns and needs of your state?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What is your position on international trade and how it impacts American jobs and industries?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How do you view the recent trend of states imposing abortion bans, and what is your stance on reproductive rights and access to safe, legal abortion at the federal level?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How do you plan to address the financial challenges facing Social Security and Medicare without compromising the benefits for current and future retirees?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What are your thoughts on raising the retirement age or adjusting the cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security benefits?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How would you approach the issue of rising healthcare costs and its impact on the Medicare program?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How do you plan to address disparities in educational opportunities and resources between schools in low-income and high-income areas?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What is your position on the role of charter schools and vouchers in the American education system?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How would you support teachers and ensure they have the resources and compensation necessary to provide a quality education?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How would you approach the United States' relationships with key allies and adversaries on the global stage?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What is your position on the use of military force versus diplomacy in resolving international conflicts?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How do you view the role of international organizations, such as the United Nations, in shaping US foreign policy?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How would you address the situation of undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States, particularly those who were brought to the country as children?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What steps do you propose to improve the legal immigration system and streamline the process for those seeking to enter the country lawfully?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How do you plan to balance border security with the humane treatment of migrants and asylum seekers?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How will you work to combat discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly in areas such as housing, employment, and education?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What policies do you support regarding transgender individuals' access to gender-affirming healthcare and the ability to serve in the military?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How will you promote LGBTQ+ representation and inclusion in government and public life?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What are your specific policy proposals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition the United States to a clean energy economy?
US Senate
US House of Representatives
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How will you address environmental justice issues that disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What is your stance on the role of international climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, in addressing global climate change?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How do you propose to reform the criminal justice system, particularly in areas such as mass incarceration, mandatory minimum sentencing, and cash bail?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What measures would you support to improve police-community relations and ensure accountability for law enforcement?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How do you plan to address the issue of gun violence and promote responsible gun ownership?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What are your proposals for expanding access to mental health and substance abuse treatment services?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How would you work to address the root causes of drug addiction, such as economic despair and lack of access to healthcare?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What role do you believe pharmaceutical companies should play in addressing the opioid crisis and other drug abuse issues?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What policies do you support to help workers adapt to the changing job market, particularly in industries affected by automation and outsourcing?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What measures would you propose to ensure workers have access to fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to unionize?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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Collaboration and Bipartisanship
5
How do you plan to work across party lines to build consensus and advance legislation in the [Position / Legislative Body]?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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Describe a time when you successfully collaborated with someone who held opposing views on a key issue.
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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How would you handle situations where your party's leadership takes a position that conflicts with the interests of your constituents?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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What strategies do you have for fostering a more collaborative and bipartisan environment in Congress?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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Can you provide an example of a policy issue where you believe there is potential for bipartisan agreement, and how you would work to achieve it?
US House of Representatives
US Senate
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