"I know firsthand the high-quality work HSG Campaigns has done in Los Angeles and across California. Eric Hogensen and his team have a talent for creative communications, strategic targeting, and innovative campaign practices. A Democrat running for office in California should definitely consider them for their campaign."
- Eric C. Bauman, Chair, Democratic Party of California
A website is a great way to interact with voters and allow them to research your positions. However there are many things to keep in mind when designing your website.
1. Take advantage of modern website creators:
Gone are the days when you need a dedicated web designer to create the perfect page for you. There are numerous places that make website creation simple and easy, like Squarespace and Wix. Do some basic research and find a provider and site that works for you.
2. Keep it simple:
As with most things in campaigns, it is easy to get carried away with all the bells and whistles that come with the modern website creators. Your website needs to allow voters to learn about you, contact you, and support you. A simple and clean design achieves those purposes.
3. Make sure your domain is easy to type:
Once again simplicity is the key here. If you plan on putting your URL on a palm card or piece of mail, make sure it is easy to read and type in. Voters aren’t going to spend extra time if they are struggling to type in a long, confusing URL.
4. Make it easy to find anything:
If a voter wants to find something out about you, your website is a place they will often look. Don’t make it difficult for them to find something. This is doubly true for contributions. You should always be able to get to the donation part of your site with one click from anywhere on the site.
5. This is your chance to use details, don’t abuse it:
Your website is the one place where you can spell out details in their full glory. The problem is many candidates forget is the rule of being concise. Make good use of the phrase “click to read more.” You want to make it easy and simple to read about any issues, and then give people the option to read the detailed plan.
News seems to be coming out of Washington every week about the Mueller investigation and Trump's latest attacks on the FBI. We find ourselves asking, "What if Trump really does leave office early?" Today we look at some different scenarios to gauge the fallout.
#1 - Trump Resigns Before the 2018 Midterms
The president's party typically does worse in midterm elections because the opposition is more motivated to come to the polls. With Trump gone, the GOP base would feel even less enthusiasm and that could lead to a stronger environment for Democrats. Trump has been dragging down Republican poll numbers overall, and Democrats currently enjoy a 13-point generic ballot advantage. Although Trump vacating would likely lessen Democratic voters' sense of urgency, but the Republican base would be dismayed. Democrats almost assuredly take the House and are at least close to a majority in the Senate.
#2 - Trump is removed by Congress before the 2018 midterm
The only way this happens is if we see irrefutable evidence that Trump colluded with the Russian government to win in 2016, or if he's guilty of another high crime we do not yet know about. Trump's base still commands tremendous power in GOP primaries, so it could cause a massive number of sitting GOP members to lose in primaries. If that happens, it's unclear what exactly happens to Democratic turnout. Trump is out, but Trumpian Republicans are on the ballot. Either way, the year would be remembered for high drama.
#3 - Trump resigns in victory
Many have speculated Trump could get tired of being president and decide to return to his life as a celebrity. Trump announces he has "Made America Great Again" and that he never intended to stay in office if he got the job done. Mike Pence takes over and has almost universal support of the GOP entering 2020. This might be a best-case scenario for Republicans, but the economy will have to stay strong for them to remain in the White House.
#4 - Democrats impeach Trump after the midterms
In this scenario, Trump doesn’t actually leave office. Democrats manage to take the House in 2018 and details of obstruction of justice come out of the Mueller investigation. Democrats seize the opportunity to impeach. The country is divided, with Republicans unsure if the crime is worthy of removal. The Senate fails to reach the 2/3rds majority to remove Trump and the country stays on a similar track. We enter 2020 with even greater divisions, and neither party has a clear edge.
#5 - Trump leaves office in disgrace after Dems win the midterms
Overwhelming evidence convinces even Republicans to vote for impeachment and removal. Mike Pence is made president and has to deal with a Democratic majority in Congress. In this scenario, Pence is put in the Gerald Ford dilemma: Does he pardon Trump? If no, he offends Trump loyalists who refuse to believe anything but deep state conspiracies, and GOP turnout declines in 2020, losing him the election. If yes, he loses the support of many independents he will need in 2020. He loses in 2020 either way.
All of these scenarios have strong down-ballot implications for gubernatorial races and state legislatures, all of which affect redistricting after the 2020 election. Trump leaving office would have a profound effect on American politics over the next decade.