The election is over, and the winners have been declared. Your work, however, is just beginning. The relationships you built and the information you gathered during the campaign season are valuable assets for your ongoing advocacy efforts.

The Transition

• Say Thank You: Send a thank-you message to all candidates who participated in your events or filled out your questionnaire. Acknowledge the effort it takes to run for office, regardless of the outcome.
• Congratulate the Winners: Publicly and privately congratulate the newly elected (or re-elected) officials. This is a simple, professional courtesy that helps keep the lines of communication open.
• Internal Debrief: Hold a meeting with your team, board, and key volunteers to discuss the outcomes of your election activities. Use the metrics you developed in Setting Goals and Measuring Success to guide your conversation.

Building on Your Momentum

• Request Meetings: Don't wait for newly elected officials to take office. Request a meeting during the transition period to introduce your organization (or re-introduce it) and briefly discuss your key priorities. See our guide on how to have an effective /outreach/official-meeting.
• Present Your Agenda: Use the responses from your candidate questionnaire and the conversations you had during the campaign to create a clear, concise policy agenda. Frame it as a "First 100 Days" or "First Year" set of goals. You can use some of the templates from our /outreach/advocacy-letters guide.
• Hold Them Accountable: The questionnaire responses are a public record. When a relevant issue comes before the council, gently remind officials of their stated positions. For example, "During the campaign, you expressed support for X. Now you have a great opportunity to put that support into action."
• Be a Resource: Position your organization as the go-to expert on your issues. Offer to provide data, connect them with national experts, or organize site visits to see successful infrastructure in other cities.

The election was not the end goal; it was a strategy to achieve your long-term vision. By thoughtfully transitioning from campaigning to governing, you can turn your election-season efforts into tangible policy wins.

Support Materials

"Thank You for Running" Email Template (For all candidates)

Subject: Thank you for your participation

Dear [Candidate Name],

On behalf of [Your Organization's Name], I wanted to extend a sincere thank you for your participation in our election engagement activities this season.

We appreciate you taking the time to complete our questionnaire and/or attend our candidate forum. Your willingness to engage in a dialogue about the future of transportation and street safety in our community is vital to our civic process.

We wish you the best in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

[Your Name] [Your Title] [Your Organization's Name] {.is-info}

"Congratulations & Meeting Request" Email Template (For winners)

Subject: Congratulations on your victory!

Dear [Councilmember/Mayor-elect Name],

On behalf of [Your Organization's Name], I would like to extend our warmest congratulations on your victory in the [Name of Office] election.

We enjoyed the conversations we had during the campaign season and appreciated your thoughtful responses on issues of street safety and active transportation.

As you begin to plan for your term, we would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with you briefly to formally introduce our organization and discuss how we can be a resource to you and your staff. We have several exciting ideas for creating a safer and more connected [Your City] that we believe align with your vision.

Please let us know what time might work for a brief meeting in the coming weeks.

Again, congratulations on your success. We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

[Your Name] [Your Title] [Your Organization's Name] {.is-info}