DS won Senior Class President last year because he was nice to everyone and made a point for three years of sitting with all different groups at lunch. He didn’t plan it that way - it’s just who he is. When a teacher suggested he run for class president, he was surprised. He’s a bit of a loner when it comes to groups of friends but very friendly to all. He’s also a top student which helped I think.

DD is not in the popular crowd at all but very smart and friendly with everyone and she is Student Body President. She’s a senior and started in 9th grade with lesser positions (council freshman year, treasurer sophomore year, VP junior year). In her school student council is less of a popularity contest than class officers.

I would advise your son to be nice and smile to everyone. Court the less popular kids - they vote too. Have a great funny speech with a couple good class ideas and projects that haven’t been done before. Put up posters/flyers in the bathroom stalls.

Even if he doesn’t win, he’ll get better known for next year. Have him join committees to help the class.

The two popular kids will split the vote and he has a good shot at winning. I say shoot your shot!

Aw, my 9th grade DS did the same thing earlier in the year. He was also fairly unknown--he went to a small middle school that is not a "main" feeder to the high school, and he also went to elementary out of the area so didn't have much of a base to draw from.

He lost. It was okay. We talked a lot about how awesome it was that he put himself out there, and that student government would be there another year if he was still interested.

Anonymous wrote:You know, maybe it’s fine he doesn’t have a shot. It’s like a medium big deal and he can get more confident knowing he can put himself out there, not make it work, and then get up again. It’s actually a perfect time to have a controlled environment to tackle low stakes life lessons that will make him resilient in the long run. He sounds awesome!

+1

It's not really about having a shot of winning, but getting out there and showing some hustle. A lot to be learned from that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He needs to stand in front of the school every morning and shake as many hands as possible as kids arrive. Have three friends around him with signs with his name (only, no slogans) Name recognition is everything.

Yes! Kids won’t attend any rally. Yhey are only interested in getting home but they will remember a name.

I think this is a great idea. I work with local politicians and honestly, it's the same at our level. It's a popularity/name recognition issue. And if he doesn't win this year, he's put in the time to create a name for himself and it might really help him next year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He could rig the election, like Biden.

/s

You really don't trust our democracy!?!?!?! That is the first step toward totalitarianism. Read any history? Probably not, our communist public educational system is horrible for an OECD nation. It's all hopeless. Go Dictator on the horizon! Boo, whoever takes office.

Np. Pssst. The /s denotes sarcasm.

OP, you say "unpopular" but to me it sounds more like your son is "unknown".

Unpopular to me signifies someone who is known but not well liked. Which is doesn't sound like your son is... unknown on the other hand means just that... darkhorse candidate

I think if (when?) he loses this is a perfect opportunity to continue to build his brand if he wants to pursue this again next year.

Good Luck to your son!

He is in 9th grade. Come up with a list of 4 things he would like to support for the 9th grade and print up regular sized sheets of thicker colored paper (construction paper thickness). Get to school early the next couple of days and ask 9th grade teaches if he can post them somewhere in their classroom.
Have a stapler and tape immediately available if the teacher says yes.

Student government is less a popularity contest and more a have a plan contest and ability to speak up. Do find out if the kids speak before their class at any time. If so -- work on that too, obviously Probably the big issues right now are getting back to activities that were in place before covid and have not yet been brought back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He could rig the election, like Biden.

/s

You really don't trust our democracy!?!?!?! That is the first step toward totalitarianism. Read any history? Probably not, our communist public educational system is horrible for an OECD nation. It's all hopeless. Go Dictator on the horizon! Boo, whoever takes office.

Welcome to the internet. Allow me to explain how it works.
When someone types /s after a statement, that tells you that they are using something called sarcasm. Do you know what that means? Probably not as you seem to be humorless.

Anonymous wrote:Most kids aren't involved and don't care at all about this. It's great your child is engaged and passionate, but just so he realizes - no one else cares.

+1. I doubt many adults could tell you who their 9th grade class President was. More stress on how proud you are that he’s trying and less on the importance of winning.

I tell my kids you get 0% of the opportunities you don’t apply for. And it’s true. Both of my kids were chosen for 1 or 2 things in HS I considered pretty unlikely. Really amazing, long shot opportunities that changed their lives in a great way. Who knows, maybe other kids also thought they were unlikely and didn’t apply or try out.

Remind your kid that you don’t get everything you apply or try out for. Probably not even most things. That’s life. In HS, they stop handing out participation trophies. But if you want it, go for it. Because if even 1-2 pan out, that’s 1-2 great experiences.

Anonymous wrote:He needs to stand in front of the school every morning and shake as many hands as possible as kids arrive. Have three friends around him with signs with his name (only, no slogans) Name recognition is everything.

Yes! Kids won’t attend any rally. Yhey are only interested in getting home but they will remember a name.

Have him watch Napoleon Dynamite
He can also make all sorts of promises and then break them all - this is elections 101

You know, maybe it’s fine he doesn’t have a shot. It’s like a medium big deal and he can get more confident knowing he can put himself out there, not make it work, and then get up again. It’s actually a perfect time to have a controlled environment to tackle low stakes life lessons that will make him resilient in the long run. He sounds awesome!

Anonymous wrote:He should hold a rally.

There's truth here. You can always hold a rally and hand out something they want, i.e. gift cards, with your son's name on it. We can take the play straight out of the Hugo Chavez play book. Didn't he give people washing machines if they were poor?