20 Questions

Questions to Ask a Political Candidate

Navigate political candidate interactions with strategic questions that help you understand their policies, values, and approach while gathering valuable information for your voting decisions.

1

What's your approach to addressing the most pressing issues facing our community?

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Why this works

Reveals their priorities while helping you understand what issues they consider most important and how they plan to address them.

2

What's your approach to working with different types of constituents and stakeholders?

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Why this works

Shows their representation skills while revealing how they work with various groups and represent diverse interests.

3

What's your approach to handling different types of policy challenges and decisions?

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Why this works

Demonstrates their policy expertise while revealing how they approach complex policy issues and decision-making.

4

What's your approach to working with different types of political parties and coalitions?

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Why this works

Shows their collaboration skills while revealing how they work with other political parties and build coalitions.

5

What's your approach to handling the pressure and scrutiny that comes with public office?

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Why this works

Demonstrates their resilience while revealing how they manage the intense pressure and public scrutiny of political office.

6

What's your approach to working with different types of media and public relations?

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Why this works

Shows their communication skills while revealing how they handle media attention and public relations.

7

What's your approach to working with different types of budgets and financial management?

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Why this works

Demonstrates their fiscal responsibility while revealing how they manage public finances and budget decisions.

8

What's your approach to working with different types of regulatory and legal requirements?

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Why this works

Shows their compliance awareness while revealing how they navigate legal requirements and regulatory frameworks.

9

What's your approach to working with different types of community organizations and groups?

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Why this works

Demonstrates their community engagement while revealing how they work with various community organizations and groups.

10

What's your approach to working with different types of economic development and growth?

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Why this works

Shows their economic focus while revealing how they approach economic development and growth strategies.

11

What's your approach to working with different types of environmental and sustainability issues?

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Why this works

Demonstrates their environmental awareness while revealing how they approach environmental protection and sustainability.

12

What's your approach to working with different types of social issues and equity?

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Why this works

Shows their social awareness while revealing how they address social issues and promote equity and inclusion.

13

What's your approach to working with different types of infrastructure and public services?

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Why this works

Demonstrates their public service focus while revealing how they approach infrastructure development and public service delivery.

14

What's your approach to working with different types of education and workforce development?

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Why this works

Shows their education focus while revealing how they approach education policy and workforce development.

15

What's your approach to working with different types of healthcare and public health?

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Why this works

Demonstrates their healthcare awareness while revealing how they approach healthcare policy and public health issues.

16

What's your approach to working with different types of public safety and security?

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Why this works

Shows their safety focus while revealing how they approach public safety and security policies.

17

What's your approach to working with different types of transparency and accountability?

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Why this works

Demonstrates their governance awareness while revealing how they approach transparency and accountability in government.

18

What's your approach to working with different types of innovation and technology?

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Why this works

Shows their innovation focus while revealing how they approach technology and innovation in government.

19

What's the most rewarding aspect of public service for you?

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Why this works

Focuses on positive aspects while revealing what they find most fulfilling about their public service role and career.

20

What's the most important thing for constituents to know about your platform?

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Why this works

Provides key guidance while revealing what they consider most critical for constituents to understand about their platform and policies.

Mastering Political Candidate Interactions

Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.

Best Practices

Assess Policy Positions

Ask about their approach to key issues and policies to understand their positions and how they align with your values and priorities.

Evaluate Leadership Style

Ask about their approach to leadership and decision-making to understand how they would govern and represent your interests.

Understand the Role

Ask about the challenges and responsibilities of public office to understand what the role entails and how they would handle it.

Question Sequences

The Policy Explorer

1
What's your approach to addressing the most pressing issues facing our community?
2
What's your approach to working with different types of policy challenges and decisions?
3
What's your approach to working with different types of budgets and financial management?

The Representation Focus

1
What's your approach to working with different types of constituents and stakeholders?
2
What's your approach to working with different types of community organizations and groups?
3
What's your approach to working with different types of transparency and accountability?

Common Pitfalls

Don't Focus Only on Party Affiliation

While party affiliation matters, also ask about their specific policies and approach. This gives you a better understanding of their actual positions.

Avoid Generic Questions

Don't ask questions that don't reveal their specific approach and experience. Ask about their unique methods and strategies.

Don't Ignore the Personal Side

Remember that politics is deeply personal. Ask about their motivation, values, and personal approach to public service.

Conversation Templates

The Policy Explorer

1
Step 1: Start with: "What's your approach to addressing the most pressing issues facing our community?"
2
Step 2: Follow with: "What's your approach to working with different types of policy challenges and decisions?"
3
Step 3: Deepen with: "What's your approach to working with different types of budgets and financial management?"

The Representation Focus

1
Step 1: Begin with: "What's your approach to working with different types of constituents and stakeholders?"
2
Step 2: Explore with: "What's your approach to working with different types of community organizations and groups?"
3
Step 3: Connect with: "What's your approach to working with different types of transparency and accountability?"

Further Reading

"The Federalist Papers" by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
"Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville
"The Politics" by Aristotle

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