--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What any candidate should do in any race…" description: "\"What any candidate should do in any race, frankly, is to show up. There's no special, secret sauce there. It's about having real conversations with rea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ce/gretchen-whitmer-10477_candidate_what-any-candidate-should-do-in-any-race_200190.jpg" --- # What any candidate should do in any race, frankly, is to… ![“What any candidate should do in any race, frankly, is to show up. There's no special, secret sauce there. It's about having real conversations with real people, and when you do that you stay tethered to the things that matter. And that's what people want.” quote by Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ce/gretchen-whitmer-10477_candidate_what-any-candidate-should-do-in-any-race_200190.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ce/gretchen-whitmer-10477_candidate_what-any-candidate-should-do-in-any-race_200190.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ce/gretchen-whitmer-10477_candidate_what-any-candidate-should-do-in-any-race_200190.jpg) > “What any candidate should do in any race, frankly, is to show up. There's no special, secret sauce there. It's about having real conversations with real people, and when you do that you stay tethered to the things that matter. And that's what people want.” [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success in elections comes from consistent, genuine engagement with voters rather than secret tactics. **In simple terms:** Show up and talk to people. Key Takeaway Prioritize authentic, ongoing dialogue with constituents. Themes politics authenticity communication campaigns leadership Mood hopeful determined pragmatic Type political motivational strategic When to use this quote - local town halls - door‑to‑door canvassing - online community forums - policy listening sessions Key Concepts grassroots outreach public trust relationship building Questions to Reflect On - How can candidates maintain authenticity at scale? - What role does media play in shaping voter perception? A Different Perspective Authenticity alone may not overcome structural disadvantages. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Candidate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Things that matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-that-matter/) ## Related quotes > [If you want a candidate who is led the fight against Obamacare, who will lift the burdens on small businesses and bring back jobs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/if-you-want-a-candidate-who-is-led-the-fight-against-obamacare-who/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [It's hard to do, but a disciplined candidate who really has thoughtful solutions and a plan to execute on them, I think, is ultimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/it-s-hard-to-do-but-a-disciplined-candidate-who-really-has-thoughtful/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [If you don't ask for money, people don't think you are a serious candidate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/if-you-don-t-ask-for-money-people-don-t-think-you-are-a-serious/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [Astrophysicists perfected navigation. We perfected all these things that matter to the power of nations manifest on the world stage. So we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/astrophysicists-perfected-navigation-we-perfected-all-these-things/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Design and style should work toward making you look good and feel good without a lot of effort so you can get on with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/design-and-style-should-work-toward-making-you-look-good-and-feel/) [Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/) > [You have to be doing things that matter - responsibility, but also responsibility with epic and beautiful and noble tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-bachelet/you-have-to-be-doing-things-that-matter-responsibility-but-also/) [Michelle Bachelet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-bachelet/) > [“You can never be too sure when it comes to things that matter most”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/you-can-never-be-too-sure-when-it-comes-to-things-that-matter-most/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [These fiery trials are designed to make you stronger, but they have the potential to diminish or even destroy your trust in the Son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-l-andersen/these-fiery-trials-are-designed-to-make-you-stronger-but-they-have/) [Neil L. Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-l-andersen/) > [For the first time in my life I actually feel sorry for Carol. I'm only seventeen years old, and I already know something she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-actually-feel-sorry-for-carol-i-m/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [ If I had a worldview, and I don’t know if I do, but if I did, it’s one that’s intensely humanistic. \[That worldview\] is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kripke/if-i-had-a-worldview-and-i-don-t-know-if-i-do-but-if-i-did-it-s-one/) [Eric Kripke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kripke/) > [I try to make work about things that matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-james-marshall/i-try-to-make-work-about-things-that-matter/) [Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/) > [“Forgive me, I have yet to introduce myself.” The Human spread his arms expansively and bowed in his chair. He made grand gestures at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-g-night/forgive-me-i-have-yet-to-introduce-myself-the-human-spread-his-arms/) [S.G. Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-g-night/) > [“How you matter is defined by the things that matter to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/how-you-matter-is-defined-by-the-things-that-matter-to-you/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [All your horse looks for is the thing that matters most, peace and contentment. Give it to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-brannaman/all-your-horse-looks-for-is-the-thing-that-matters-most-peace-and/) [Buck Brannaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-brannaman/) > [We do not know about our last day on this planet. All we know of are the people whom we love and the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemis-khan/we-do-not-know-about-our-last-day-on-this-planet-all-we-know-of-are/) [Kemis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemis-khan/) ## More by Gretchen Whitmer > [Flint's got so many hardworking, good people who just want a fair shake and it starts with making sure their government is responsive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/flint-s-got-so-many-hardworking-good-people-who-just-want-a-fair/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [We have to make it easier to afford to go into education in the first place, so you don't leave with crippling debt that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/we-have-to-make-it-easier-to-afford-to-go-into-education-in-the-first/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [I ran on fixing the roads... I ran on cleaning up drinking water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/i-ran-on-fixing-the-roads-i-ran-on-cleaning-up-drinking-water/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [I know that the DeVos agenda has absolutely devastated our public school system in Michigan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/i-know-that-the-devos-agenda-has-absolutely-devastated-our-public/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [I believe you have a birthright to a good education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/i-believe-you-have-a-birthright-to-a-good-education/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [I'm proud to be a Michigander, but I look around at the Michigan that my kids are growing up in and it doesn't look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/i-m-proud-to-be-a-michigander-but-i-look-around-at-the-michigan-that/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [Obviously, Detroiters pay the worst when it comes to car insurance, but car insurance is expensive for Michiganders across the state. I hear about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/obviously-detroiters-pay-the-worst-when-it-comes-to-car-insurance-but/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [The people of Michigan deserve leadership in Lansing that will work to continue providing them with services they depend on every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/the-people-of-michigan-deserve-leadership-in-lansing-that-will-work/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [There's not one path for everyone, but everyone deserves a path that's right for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/there-s-not-one-path-for-everyone-but-everyone-deserves-a-path-that-s/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [But over 20 years ago I was a victim of rape. And thank god it didn't result in a pregnancy. Because I can't imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/but-over-20-years-ago-i-was-a-victim-of-rape-and-thank-god-it-didn-t/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [The goal is to make sure everyone has got their lead pipes replaced, and I know that's moving forward in the city of Flint.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/the-goal-is-to-make-sure-everyone-has-got-their-lead-pipes-replaced/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [There have been too few women in leadership because they haven't had the opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/there-have-been-too-few-women-in-leadership-because-they-haven-t-had/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [Community colleges are in every district in this state, they serve Republican and Democratic families and non-partisan and non-political families as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/community-colleges-are-in-every-district-in-this-state-they-serve/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [I'm not married to a 45-cent gas tax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/i-m-not-married-to-a-45-cent-gas-tax/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [If you don't ask for money, people don't think you are a serious candidate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/if-you-don-t-ask-for-money-people-don-t-think-you-are-a-serious/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) [Explore all 65 Gretchen Whitmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) ## More Candidate quotes > [I know of not one Republican candidate that would not appear publicly with Mitt Romney and I know many Democrats that don't even want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/i-know-of-not-one-republican-candidate-that-would-not-appear-publicly/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [As a registered Democrat, I am praying for a credible presidential candidate to emerge from the younger tier of politicians in their late 40s.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/as-a-registered-democrat-i-am-praying-for-a-credible-presidential/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Obama did organize a great large number of people and many enthusiastic people, what's called in the press 'Obama's Army.' But the army is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/obama-did-organize-a-great-large-number-of-people-and-many/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Candidate Trump held out his hand to Vladimir Putin. He rejected further U.S. intervention in Syria other than to smash ISIS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/candidate-trump-held-out-his-hand-to-vladimir-putin-he-rejected/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [You should not be misled about the so-called single opposition candidate. There are so many of them now that you will lack the fingers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lukashenko/you-should-not-be-misled-about-the-so-called-single-opposition/) [Alexander Lukashenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lukashenko/) > [I want to say that I cannot be intimidated or stopped. In order to put an end to various attempts to get rid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitali-klitschko/i-want-to-say-that-i-cannot-be-intimidated-or-stopped-in-order-to-put/) [Vitali Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitali-klitschko/) > [Today, I'm a candidate for the office of president of the United States of America. My kids can't believe I just said that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/today-i-m-a-candidate-for-the-office-of-president-of-the-united/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [I think Trump is a very interesting candidate in this sense: I think he has cross-party appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/i-think-trump-is-a-very-interesting-candidate-in-this-sense-i-think/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I do think that sometimes, especially coming into this going straight from activism to being a candidate or to being a person who potentially,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/i-do-think-that-sometimes-especially-coming-into-this-going-straight/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [Even though I don't agree with Donald Trump on everything, and I think there may be certain things or statements of his that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-zeldin/even-though-i-don-t-agree-with-donald-trump-on-everything-and-i-think/) [Lee Zeldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-zeldin/) > [I'm not quite certain how you can force a candidate to stick by the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/i-m-not-quite-certain-how-you-can-force-a-candidate-to-stick-by-the/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [I am not a fan of Mitt Romney, but I admit that he is, politically speaking, a good candidate for president. He has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/i-am-not-a-fan-of-mitt-romney-but-i-admit-that-he-is-politically/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [I am aware of the responsibility I am taking on as the chancellor. Things have developed very quickly for me in recent years, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-kurz/i-am-aware-of-the-responsibility-i-am-taking-on-as-the-chancellor/) [Sebastian Kurz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-kurz/) > [For people to even think that I'd be considered or a good candidate for a supporting actress nomination is mind blowing to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naya-rivera/for-people-to-even-think-that-i-d-be-considered-or-a-good-candidate/) [Naya Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naya-rivera/) > [A candidate's faith is not the only consideration, but should be a major consideration in electing the president of the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/a-candidate-s-faith-is-not-the-only-consideration-but-should-be-a/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) [Browse all 529 Candidate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What any candidate should do in any race, frankly, is to show up. 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