Why Campaigns Get Texting Wrong + 3 Steps To Fix It Before 2026

Stop blasting. Start connecting. We break down the top strategy mistakes of P2P texting and the 3 fixes campaigns need before 2026

Starting campaign communication early is not just a nice-to-have anymore - it is a must-have strategy. And in 2025, the clock is already ticking.

In a cycle where voters expect immediacy, personalization and relevance, campaigns that still use texting as a last-minute tool instead of a long-term strategy will fall behind. It is not just about when you send your first message - it is about how you use texting to build trust and foster engagement before, during, and after election season.

Campaigns today are getting texting wrong in three core ways:

1. They Start Too Late

As Caitlin Huxley notes in "Why Late Starts Can Kill Campaigns,” waiting for your campaign to be "fully built" before engaging voters is a losing strategy. While this article focuses on field campaign strategy, the same logic applies for texting. Many campaigns wait until GOTV season to send their first text, treating it like a push notification instead of a relationship-building tool.

But texting is your digital field team. It allows you to talk with voters, not just at them, from day one. 

Starting early means:

• Introducing your candidate when voters are actually listening
• Collecting real, honest feedback on what voters care about to use in future messaging
• Following up, again and again, with value
  
  

If you are waiting until October to send your first text, you are already behind and most likely being ignored.

Starting early also gives you the flexibility to respond in real-time when something unexpected happens, whether it is a policy shift, an opponent's attack or a community crisis. Texting gives you the speed and reach to lead with relevance when it matters most. Never tried this before? Here is how our strategists recommend building a rapid response strategy with texting.

2. They Treat Texting Like a Blast Channel

Too many campaigns use texting like it is email, direct mail or display ads: a one-way, generic broadcast. But voters are tired of being hit with irrelevant mass communication - they want meaningful engagement.

Just as Huxley’s concept of “long-form canvassing” emphasizes, and as noted in "Why Campaigns Get Digital Strategy Wrong,” most campaigns miss the mark by prioritizing gilded outreach over understanding actual voter behavior. Real engagement does not happen through high-budget broadcasts - it happens when you show up consistently, speak to genuine concerns, and tap into emotional resonance.

“The Relational Republican” also makes a powerful point: campaigns used to be seasonal. However, voters now expect political leaders to remain active between elections to prove their care when the cameras are off. That shift from transactional campaigning to relational organizing has huge implications for texting. We know for a fact from many years in the industry that texting works best when it is:

• Responsive to local issues
• Emotionally relevant
• Timed to voters’ priorities, not just your calendar
  
  

Think of texting like your campaign's ongoing one-to-one dialogue. It is one of the most effective ways to build trust and boost voter engagement throughout the cycle. We have had clients master this strategy - check out how peer-to-peer texting helped this Congressional campaign meaningfully engage voters. TL;DR - If you are not segmenting your audience, personalizing your outreach or asking for feedback, you are not just missing an opportunity - you are misusing the medium.

To help you execute this at scale, explore how conversation automation can personalize responses and drive conversions without losing the human touch.

3. They Go Silent After the Election Treat 

Campaigns have traditionally followed a start-stop rhythm: activate around Election Day, then disappear. We cannot stress enough the importance of communication after the election, especially when it comes to reconnecting with supporters and laying the groundwork for future victories.

Modern campaigns do not end in November. As Lisa Schneegans wrote in “The Relational Republican,” voters now expect always-on engagement. They want to know: Who is still here when it is not go time?

Texting gives you the perfect channel to stay present, even between cycles. It is how you:

• Share updates and wins
• Keep your volunteer base warm
• Help with local issues year-round
• Mobilize trusted messengers to persuade and register the disengaged
  
  

The result? Voters feel like you are part of their community, not just another campaign parachuting in for a vote.

For ideas on how to continue the conversation after an election, here are 3 essential post-election texting operations you should not skip.

So, how do you get texting right in 2025 and beyond?

Step 1. Start Early 

You do not need a complete brand kit or final message to start texting. Use texting to:

• Welcome early supporters
• Share why you are running
• Ask people what they care about
• Invite feedback and local stories

Step 2. Personalized Everything 

Segmentation and local relevance are non-negotiable. Build tags based on:

• Geography
• Issues
• Engagement behavior
• Volunteer history
  
  

Personalized messages drive replies, trust and action.

Pro Tip: With our AB/EV Ballot Status Sync, campaigns can automatically tag voters based on whether they have received or returned their ballot, so you can focus follow-ups only on the people who still need a nudge.

Step 3. Stay in the Conversation 

Do not go dark after Election Day. Use texting to:

• Thank supporters for their part in your success
• Share community updates
• Organize or promote local non-election events 
• Keep your volunteer base alive between elections

Bottom Line

Most campaigns wait too long to do the things that matter. They wait to knock on doors, they wait to go digital and they wait to text.

Texting is more than just a mass-blast GOTV strategy. It has the power to be the foundation for every modern campaign that wants to be relevant, responsive and remembered.

Start early. Stay real. Show up. That is how you win with texting now and into 2026.

Interested in getting started with P2P texting? Shoot us a text us at 833-530-4400 or reach out to our sales team at sales@rumbleup.com to discuss how our cost-effective, user-friendly platform can boost your voter turnout.