Political Campaigning

“The Political Campaigning Program gave me a strong foundation upon which to build a career in public service. My degree certainly caught the eye of elected officials when I first looked for a job. And the experiences I had as a student, particularly the opportunity to wage a mock campaign, helped give me the confidence I needed to run for office myself.”

Read more "Debbie Wasserman Schultz (UF/PC 1990)"

“The Campaigning Program at UF helped to expand the knowledge I had gained earlier as both a campaign manager and a candidate. It greatly enhanced my understanding of voting behavior, partisanship, and the impact of communications, while providing me with a useful theoretical framework for making political decisions.”

Read more "David Beattie (UF/PC 1997)"

“The UF Political Campaigning Program is simply a great education and a great experience. The combined academic and real-world approach to this graduate program is the right way to go. It helps to elevate the profession, and instill strong values of hard work, ethics, and an historic understanding of Florida politics and government. I wholeheartedly recommend the Political Campaigning Program to anyone interested in either.”

Read more "David Rancourt (UF/PC 1990)"

“The Political Campaigning Program enabled me to understand politics in a way that most candidates would not. Running for Congress is extremely difficult, but the program at UF taught me what to expect and lent insight into the strategy that we are using in our campaign.”

Read more "Tom Rooney (UF/PC 1996)"

“I frequently return to the truths I learned at UF. The Campaigning Program equipped me with a fuller understanding both of the larger, environmental factors that shape elections and of the strategies and tactics that define successful campaigns. There’s no substitute for experience in campaigns, but success within that experience is based on the understanding and skills you have acquired. For anyone considering a career in politics, I recommend arming yourself with the Campaigning Program’s balanced approach of theory and practice.”

Read more "Michael Luethy (UF/PC 2003) General Consultant- Oak Grove Campaigns. Raleigh, NC"

“The Political Campaigning program at the University of Florida provided me with the practical skills and academic foundation necessary to jump-start my career in the field of applied politics. The strength of the program was it’s focus on the strategic and tactical approaches that ultimately enabled me to better leverage my skills as a campaign staffer, Policy Advisor on Capitol Hill and now, Government Affairs professional. Further, the relationships that I was able to cultivate with elite practitioners and alumni of the program exposed me to opportunities that I would have not otherwise had. I would recommend this program to anyone considering a career in the political arena.”

Read more "Ian Rayder (UF/PC 2003) Senior Manager – Government Affairs at Cisco Systems, Washington D.C."