Tip of the Day for February 13: Work Across Party Lines

Today’s tip addresses the critical strategy of building bipartisan support for policy initiatives. In today’s polarized political environment, the ability to navigate across party lines is not just beneficial; it is essential for effective advocacy. Here’s how government relations professionals can cultivate bipartisan support for their causes:

Understand the Political Landscape

– Research Positions and Priorities: Thoroughly understand the positions, priorities, and concerns of lawmakers from all parties. This includes understanding their constituencies, key policy interests, and historical voting patterns. It may be prudent to take a deep dive into their campaign finance reports and identify supporters whom you already engage.

– Identify Common Ground: Look for areas where the interests and values of different parties overlap with your advocacy goals. Even in polarized times, common ground exists on issues such as economic development, public safety, and healthcare.

Build Relationships Across the Spectrum

– Engage with a Wide Range of Lawmakers: Don’t limit your engagement to those who are already sympathetic to your cause. Reach out to lawmakers across the political spectrum to discuss your issues and understand their perspectives. Unfortunately, many of us will only engage with people and groups that share our views, and vilify those with whom we disagree.

– Cultivate Champions in Multiple Parties: Identify and cultivate relationships with potential champions from different parties. Bipartisan champions can lend credibility to your cause and help navigate party dynamics.

Tailor Your Messaging

– Use Inclusive Language: Avoid partisan language in your communications. Instead, use language that resonates with universal values and concerns, such as community well-being, economic prosperity, and national security.

– Highlight Bipartisan Benefits: Emphasize the benefits of your advocacy efforts that are universally appealing and transcend party lines. Make clear how your policy recommendations can achieve shared goals.

Leverage Bipartisan Platforms

– Participate in Bipartisan Groups: Engage with bipartisan coalitions, caucuses, and working groups that focus on your issue area. These platforms can provide opportunities for dialogue and collaboration.

– Host Bipartisan Events: Organize events, such as roundtables, forums, and briefings, that bring together lawmakers from different parties to discuss common interests and potential solutions.

Use Data and Evidence

– Provide Nonpartisan Research and Data: Support your advocacy with objective, nonpartisan research and data. Evidence-based arguments are more likely to appeal across party lines.

– Showcase Bipartisan Success Stories: Highlight examples of successful bipartisan efforts, both within and outside your issue area. Demonstrating the positive impact of cross-party collaboration can inspire similar approaches.

Foster Constituent Engagement

– Mobilize Broad Support: Encourage constituents from diverse political backgrounds to express their support for your cause to their representatives. Broad-based constituent advocacy can pressure lawmakers to consider bipartisan support.

– Organize Diverse Coalitions: Build coalitions that include a wide range of stakeholders, including businesses, community organizations, and interest groups from across the political spectrum. A diverse coalition signals broad support for your issue.

Practice Patience and Persistence

– Be Prepared for Slow Progress: Building bipartisan support often requires time and patience. Be persistent in your efforts and recognize that small steps forward are part of the path to success.

– Maintain a Long-term Perspective: Cultivate and sustain relationships even when immediate policy victories seem unlikely. Long-term engagement can yield opportunities when political dynamics shift.

Demonstrate Flexibility

– Be Open to Compromise: While staying true to your core goals, be open to compromise and negotiation. Flexibility can facilitate consensus and lead to more sustainable policy solutions.

By working across party lines, government relations professionals can enhance the resilience and appeal of their advocacy efforts, broadening support and increasing the chances of policy success. This approach not only navigates the realities of political diversity but also contributes to a more collaborative and constructive policymaking process.