How to Talk to Your Boss About Running for Office
[8 Minute Read]
It starts as a quiet voice in your mind. A kind of gut-level irritation with how things are going. The school budget keeps ballooning, but test scores remain flat. Your town can’t seem to fill a pothole, but there’s money for consultants and studies. You start to think: maybe I could do better… Maybe I should run for a seat.
Then reality sets in. You work full time. You have a boss. And if you’re like most Americans, median income, middle management, maybe juggling a couple of kids or a side hustle, leaving your job to run for office can feel more like a pipe dream than a practical next step.
This might surprise you, but the majority of elected officials in this country are actually NOT lawyers, millionaires, or lifers in the political class. According to a 2022 report from the National Conference of State Legislatures, nearly 40 percent of state legislators work another job while serving. They’re teachers, mechanics, EMTs, HR managers. In short, people just like you.
So how do you bring that up at work without setting off alarm bells or risking your livelihood?
First, Know Your Legal Rights
Before you step into your supervisor’s office start understanding a bit about the legal landscape. Private employers can set certain policies around political activity, but they cannot fire you simply for running for office, especially if you’re doing it on your own time. However, it’s important to check your employee handbook and consult state laws. Public employees, in particular, are subject to Hatch Act-type restrictions.
Have a Game Plan
Your boss’s first question will be, "How will this affect your work?" Be ready with answers. Can you shift hours? Work remotely on certain days? Are legislative sessions part-time? Present this the way you’d pitch a professional development opportunity, with structure, transparency, and impact minimization at the forefront.
Time the Conversation Strategically
This is not a breakroom conversation over burnt coffee. Schedule a proper meeting. Come in calm, confident, and clear. Avoid apologizing for having ambition. Good managers respect initiative, especially when it’s tied to community leadership.
Connect Your Run to the Company’s Values
You’re not abandoning your post. You’re expanding your civic footprint. If your company claims to value leadership, innovation, or community engagement, this is your chance to live those values out loud. Frame your candidacy as a sign of strength, not distraction.
Expect a Spectrum of Reactions
Some bosses will be thrilled. Others will quietly panic. The goal is not to get immediate approval. It’s to begin a professional, respectful dialogue. Keep the focus on logistics, not ideology. This isn’t the time to debate any kind of policy. If they drive it that direction, here’s your chance to use your inner politician to artfully circle back to the point of fact: It’s a workplace conversation about time, commitment, and trust.
Be Prepared to Educate
Most people, including supervisors, have no idea what it means to run for a local or state office. They imagine campaign buses and red carpets. You may need to demystify it. Explain that your campaign will happen during evenings, weekends, and with a few well-timed vacation days.
Start Building Your Support Network Right Now
Before you set foot into your boss’s office, make sure you have backing, from your family, your finances, and your sense of purpose. Talking to your employer is much easier when you’re standing on solid ground elsewhere.
Running for office is not a vanity project. It’s a public offering. And every community needs more people at the table who understand real-life constraints, people who’ve budgeted for groceries, waited on hold with the IRS, or argued with a school board about why music class matters. Government is, ultimately, made of people. There is no secret club. You just have to decide when it’s your turn to show up.
And when you do, do it with the full understanding that change doesn’t wait for permission. It waits for someone ordinary to say yes to service and something bigger than themselves. When you’re ready, Valkyrie can help.
