Who does Dark Horse Political work with?

Candidates. Active, declared, or in the final stages of deciding to run. Real races — federal, state, county, municipal. Real retainer budgets. The firm does not work with consultants shopping subcontract work, vendors pitching services, or speculative inquiries.

How long until you respond to a submission?

Within three business days every submission receives one of two emails: either a scheduling link for a sixty-minute introductory call, or an honest note about why the race is not a fit.

What does the engagement process look like?

Six steps. Intake form (this page). Personal review by the founder. Sixty-minute qualification call. Engagement letter and NDA via eSignatures. First retainer paid by bank wire. Work begins within three days of payment.

Is Dark Horse Political a vendor that pitches services?

No. The firm does not bid, does not pitch, does not send decks, and does not do speculative work. Engagements are either accepted or declined after qualification.

What is the typical monthly retainer?

Retainers scale with race size and scope. Municipal and down-ballot engagements typically start at $5,000 per month. Statewide and federal engagements run substantially higher. Specifics are discussed during the qualification call.

Engage · Dark Horse Political — political consulting for candidates the establishment won't back

§ Our mutual commitment

This page is for candidates. Active, declared, or in the final stages of deciding to run. Real races — federal, state, county, municipal. Real retainer budgets. Real conversations.

It is not for consultants shopping for subcontract work. It is not for vendors pitching services. It is not for casual inquiries, "picking our brains," or speculative discussions. We will not be rude, but we also will not engage.

Here is how this conversation goes. Six steps on this page. The questions below are the same questions Christopher will discuss on the first call — answering them here saves time for both of us. Within three business days you receive one of two emails: a scheduling link and what to expect on the call, or an honest note about why this is not a fit.

If that filter was uncomfortable, it was meant to be. The race will be harder.

01Contract
02The race
03The stakes
04Budget
05Decision
06Review

Step 01 of 06 — Contract

Tell us who's running.

We need to be able to reach you. The name on the ballot, the email you actually check, the phone you actually answer. No assistants, no surrogates.

First name (on the ballot)

Last name (on the ballot)

Direct email

Personal preferred. Campaign email is fine. Avoid shared accounts.

Mobile phone (direct line)

The line Christopher will call. Not an assistant's.

Campaign committee name (optional)

If filed. If not yet, leave blank.

Step 02 of 06 — The race

Define the race.

Office, district, dates, conditions. The minimum operational frame Christopher needs before any judgment is possible.

Office sought

State / district / jurisdiction

Election cycle

Primary election date

General election date

Seat status

District voting pattern

Current phase

Step 03 of 06 — The stakes

Why does this race matter?

Campaigns are not won by candidates who want to win. They are won by candidates who cannot afford to lose. We need to understand what is actually at stake — for the district, for you, for the people who don't get a voice if you lose.

What is at stake if you lose this race?

2–4 sentences. The honest version.

What is the one thing about this race that keeps you up at night?

One thing. Not a list.

What does winning unlock — that losing forfeits?

Step 04 of 06 — Budget

Budget reality, not budget hope.

Money is the operational ceiling on every campaign. We need the honest number — the real number a finance director would defend, not the optimistic one in your head. If you do not know the number, say so. That itself is an answer.

Total expected campaign budget

Monthly retainer capacity

Primary funding source

Do you have a finance director or fundraising plan?

Step 05 of 06 — Decision

Who decides, and when?

If you are not the only person who has to say yes, we need to know that now. Engagement decisions that go to committee after the call are how good campaigns lose six weeks. We don't operate that way.

Who else has to say yes to hiring DHP?

If it is only you, type "Only me." That is a valid answer.

Decision timeline

Are you talking to other firms?

Honesty here saves both of us time.

What would make you say yes to working with DHP?

Have you read WIN.?

Not required. Useful context if you have.

Step 06 of 06 — Review

Read it back.

This is exactly what lands on Christopher's desk. Go back and edit anything that doesn't represent you accurately. When it does, submit.

§ Submission received

In front of Christopher.

You will receive a confirmation email at the address you entered, within minutes.

Within three business days, Christopher will personally review your submission and respond with one of two emails: a scheduling link plus engagement letter, or an honest note about why the race is not a fit.

We do not stall. We do not ghost. We do not send marketing.

Step 07

Sixty-minute qualification call

If approved, you will receive a scheduling link by email. The call is mutual qualification — you evaluate us, we evaluate you.

Step 08

Engagement letter

Signed electronically. Clear scope, clear deliverables, clear terms. No fine print designed to be missed.

Step 09

First retainer

Paid via bank wire. Work begins within three days of payment.

§ What we are not

Dark Horse Political is not a vendor. We do not bid. We do not pitch. We do not send decks. We do not do speculative work.

We either take the engagement or we do not.

If you need a friend, hire a friend.

If you need to get elected, submit the form.

Parabellum.

Engage.