Losing Our Elections
What I Learned Running for Congress, and How We Can Fix Our Broken Politics
by Jim Spurlino
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Pub Date Oct 25 2022 | Archive Date Dec 02 2022
Amplify Publishing Group | RealClear Publishing
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Description
What is it really like to run for Congress?
In 2015, Jim Spurlino decided to run for the congressional seat recently vacated by longtime Ohio congressman John Boehner. Though he had no political experience, he—like many other Americans—had been a passionate observer of national politics. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make a difference.
Running as an outsider with a background as a successful owner of a construction materials company, his campaign was a test of the system—to see if a moderate candidate from outside the political establishment could bring fresh thinking to the public conversation.
In the course of a four-month campaign in the Republican primary, he encountered the good, the bad, and the ugly: heartfelt supporters; hardball consultants; endless, mind-numbing fundraising calls; smear campaigns; and even blank manila envelopes with damaging information. In the end, he walked away with 7 percent of the vote and an education in modern American politics.
Losing Our Elections captures what life is really like for political candidates—how and why campaigns are run, the pressures they face, the compromises they make, and the failures of the system—and presents a compelling roadmap for getting our country back on track.
Advance Praise
“Engaging, fast-paced, candid, and alarming. In Losing Our Elections, Jim Spurlino reveals what it’s really like to run for Congress as a first-time candidate. It’s a must-read for anyone thinking about running and for all who are troubled by the influence of Super PACs on U.S. elections.” —BOB TAFT, former governor of Ohio
“In Losing Our Elections, Jim Spurlino tells a story that is as cautionary as it is gripping, exposing the incentives baked into our political system that give way too much power to the most extreme voices in our country at the expense of working families and common sense.” —NANCY JACOBSON, founder and CEO of No Labels
“I’m often asked why so few pragmatists run for Congress and why so many extremists get elected. This entertaining and highly readable book explains how winning primary elections requires actions that pull candidates to the ideological poles and are inconsistent with becoming an effective legislator. Losing Our Elections offers a thoughtful list of electoral reforms that I hope our country will adopt.” —NEAL SIMON, author of Contract to Unite America and 2018 candidate for U.S. Senate
“Losing Our Elections presents a candid and captivating look at the challenges of seeking office in a polarized America. Though many of these revelations are discouraging, the book is fundamentally optimistic, providing a roadmap for debate over needed election reforms. It is a must-read for anyone considering elected office and a great read for everyone who cares about governing our divided country.” —JASON GRUMET, president and founder of the Bipartisan Policy Center
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781637552360 |
| PRICE | $29.95 (USD) |
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