Survey
From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 12 min
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Effective date: January 1, 2021
Thank you for your interest in completing Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection questionnaire! Please note the following conditions of this service.
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Frequently Asked Questions[edit]
Below are some common questions we receive from candidates about the survey. Please review the questions below to see if they match your issue.
Before candidate responses are uploaded to Ballotpedia, we must first verify that they were submitted by the candidate or a qualified campaign representative. Responses will not be uploaded until we receive verification. Please visit this page to learn how to verify your responses.
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The questionnaire can take between 30 and 90 minutes to complete, depending on the number of optional questions and length of responses.
Yes, please click the dropdown sections below to view each group of questions.
Questions for U.S. Senate candidates
- What qualities does the U.S. Senate possess that makes it unique as an institution?
- Do you believe that it’s beneficial for senators to have previous experience in government or politics?
- What do you think of the filibuster?
- What are your thoughts on term limits?
- What criteria would you apply when deciding whether to confirm presidential appointees to their Cabinet?
- What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?
- What kind of relationships would you build with other senators?
- What committees interest you?
- Is there a particular senator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
- How would you evaluate a judicial nominee?
- Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?
- How should the U.S. Senate use its investigative powers?
Questions for U.S. House candidates
- What are your thoughts on term limits?
- What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?
- Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?
- What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?
- Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?
- What committees interest you?
- Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?
- Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
- Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?
- The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?
- How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?
Questions for gubernatorial candidates
- A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean to you?
- Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?
- Different states require governors to have different degrees of responsibility for the state budgeting process. If it were your choice, what do you believe is the appropriate degree of gubernatorial involvement with this process in your state?
- In most states, governors have the power to make line-item vetoes. If that is true in your state, what would be your philosophy for how and when to use this power?
- If the governor's office in your state does not have the line-item veto power, do you believe it should? Why or why not?
- What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?
- What do you love most about your state?
- What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?
- Under what circumstances should the governor of your state be able to use emergency powers?
Questions for attorneys general candidates
- What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?
- A state's attorney general has many responsibilities. Which of those do you personally consider the most important?
- The National Association of Attorneys General has described the office as being at the "intersection of law and public policy." What does that mean to you?
- The attorney general often sets policy priorities for law enforcement. For example, a state's attorney general may decide to dedicate extra resources to combat human trafficking. Are there certain areas of law enforcement that you would emphasize or de-emphasize?
- Attorneys general can represent their states in legal conflicts with the federal government. Do you consider this an important part of an attorney general's responsibilities?
- Do you believe that it's beneficial for a state's attorney general to have previous experience in government or politics?
Questions for state legislative candidates
- Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?
- What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
- What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
- Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
- Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
- What committees interest you?
- Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
- Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?
- Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?
- Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?
- What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?
Questions for other state-level candidates
- What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?
- What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?
- Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?
- Do you believe that it’s beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?
- What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?
Questions for state supreme court candidates
- Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?
- How would you describe your legal philosophy?
- Is there a particular judge, past or present, whom you admire?
- Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?
- How does your state’s supreme court serve as part of the state government’s checks and balances?
- Have you ever been rated by a Bar Association? If so, what was the rating?
- Do you believe that Bar Association ratings are typically an accurate reflection of a judge’s ability?
- What is your primary concern about today's legal system in your state?
Questions for other judicial candidates
- Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?
- How would you describe your legal philosophy?
- Is there a particular judge, past or present, whom you admire?
- Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?
- Have you ever been rated by a Bar Association? If so, what was the rating?
- Do you believe that Bar Association ratings are an accurate reflection of a judge’s ability?
- What is your primary concern about today's legal system in your state?
- Why are you running for this particular court seat?
- Do you believe that it's beneficial for a judge to have previous experience in government or politics?
- What do you consider the greatest opportunity for the legal system in your state?
- Would you be interested in serving on a higher court in the future? If so, which court appeals to you?
Questions for mayoral candidates
- A mayor is a leader in his or her city. What does that mean to you?
- If the mayor in your city is a member of the city council and there's a city manager appointed to handle the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe should be the mayor's top priority in office?
- If the mayor in your city is not a member of the city council and oversees the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor and city council?
- What do you love most about your city?
- What do you perceive to be your city's greatest challenges over the next decade?
- What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the state government?
- What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the federal government?
- What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor’s office and law enforcement?
Questions for school board candidates
- What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?
- Who are your constituents?
- How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?
- How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?
- What will you do to build a relationship with parents in the district?
- What are your preferred strategies for faculty, staff, and administration recruitment?
- Describe your ideal learning environment for students.
- What constitutes good teaching? How will you measure this? How will you support advanced teaching approaches?
- In what areas would you like to expand curriculum? For example, do you see a need for advanced technical training or apprenticeships? What sort of innovative programming would you advance if given the opportunity?
- What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?
- What principles drive your policies for safety in schools?
- How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?
- How do you feel like your school district handled the coronavirus pandemic? What, if anything, would you do differently in the future?
- What existing district policies would you like to change, or what new policies would you like to implement?
Questions for other local candidates
- Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?
- What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?
- Do you believe that it’s beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?
- What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?
Miscellaneous questions asked to all candidates
- Who are you? Tell us about yourself in 200 words or less.
- Three key messages
- What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
- What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
- What would you do to bring greater financial transparency and accountability to government?
- What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
- Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
- What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
- What legacy would you like to leave?
- What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
- What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
- What is your favorite book? Why?
- Tell us your favorite joke.
- If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
- What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
- What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
- Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
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