The ANA-PAC’s Political Endorsement Process
With the 2010 election season fast approaching, and some surprise special elections already in the books, the 2010 season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive cycles in recent history and the ANA’s Government Affairs team wants to make sure you know about ANA-PAC’s endorsement process. In the most recent election cycle (2008), ANA-PAC endorsed 103 candidates, including President Obama, with an 89% win rate. These endorsements helped elect candidates with an interest and belief in nursing issues, and fostered relationships with decision makers including the administration that have led to opportunities to promote nursing’s agenda and enhance ANA’s reputation.
First, federal candidates under consideration for endorsement are judged using concrete endorsement criteria, which is set forth by the ANA-PAC Board. ANA’s Political Action Specialists work closely with the Constituent Member Associations (CMAs) to assess support for the candidate, gather information on the campaign required by the criteria, conduct candidate interviews, and distribute ANA’s candidate questionnaire to non-incumbents. If the candidate is an incumbent (member of Congress), ANA staff will review the Member’s legislative record on ANA’s priority issues, track campaign polling and fundraising information, and follow the race in trade publications and newspapers.
If the candidate is a non-incumbent, it is preferable that an interview with the candidate be conducted both at home in the congressional district and in Washington, D.C. Whenever possible CMA staff should conduct field interviews with non-incumbent candidates using the ANA Candidate Questionnaire, and report on the results of the candidate meeting. If the candidate is an incumbent, it is not necessary to conduct an interview, however, the CMA staff or members may want to take this opportunity to meet with the Member of Congress to brief them on ANA’s legislative and regulatory agenda.
If the CMA supports the candidate and the information gathered warrants consideration for endorsement, the Senior Political Action Specialist creates a report outlining the race and how the candidate fits the endorsement criteria. The candidate is then brought up for review and a vote by the ANA-PAC Board.
The ANA-PAC Board of Trustees reviews all relevant information and determines which candidates will be recommended to the CMA’s for ANA-PAC endorsement. Each endorsement is accompanied by a recommendation for a specific level of financial support (if any). The ANA Senior Political Action Specialist continues to serve as the primary contact person for the campaign and CMA.
ANA’s Senior Political Action Specialists will be in contact with CMA’s throughout the endorsement process and will establish verbal confirmation of CMA support for a candidate’s endorsement prior to bringing that candidate to the PAC Board for consideration. CMA’s are responsible for following their own internal process for recommendation of a candidate for endorsement. The CMA recommendation and approval of a candidate for endorsement can take place well before or concurrent with ANA-PAC consideration, but is formalized with the signing of a final approval form after ANA-PAC Board Approval.
If a candidate is approved for endorsement by the PAC Board, ANA staff faxes final approval forms to the CMA, requesting official sign-off on the endorsement as soon as possible. Once approval is received, staff will notify the candidate of ANA’s endorsement.
If you have additional questions about ANA-PAC’s endorsement process, please contact please contact us:
American Nurses Association
Government Affairs Department
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3492
gova@ana.org
http://www.anapoliticalpower.org/
Hilary Hansen and Jerome Mayer
Tags: ANA-PAC, ANA-PAC Board of Trustees, candidates, endorsement, February 2010
