Campaign Trend Podcast Why Local Campaigns Need Better Tech Tools – Ron Nehring (Leadership Institute)
Jul 16, 2025
Ron Nehring, Director of International Programs at the Leadership Institute and former national spokesman for Ted Cruz's 2016 campaign, dives into the tech challenges facing local political campaigns. He highlights five key areas needing improvement, including affordable messaging tools and better voter segmentation strategies. Nehring discusses the struggle to bridge the gap between political insiders and everyday voters. He offers practical solutions for tech entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of integrating digital tools while maintaining personal connections.
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Local Campaigns Lack Message Testing
- Most elected offices are local with very limited budgets compared to congressional races.
- Local campaigns lack affordable, effective message testing tools that can guide communication strategy.
Core vs Crowd Voter Segmentation
- Voters process political information differently based on their engagement level: core (highly engaged) versus crowd (less engaged).
- Campaigns must send distinct signals to each group to effectively connect with their values and attention.
Translate Digital Insights to Analog
- Use digital data not just for online targeting but to improve in-person voter interactions.
- Integrate digital insights with analog strategies for more impactful campaign contact at doors and events.
