Running for office is the hardest thing I’ve ever done — harder than starting my first company, harder than fundraising for my first startup, and yes… even harder than writing my first book. In this season finale of The Candidate, I share an unfiltered look at my first few months as a first-time candidate in North Hempstead, New York.

From hitting my first filing deadline and raising $160,000… to being called out on the dance floor by an Elvis impersonator… to discovering just how much national politics can impact a local race — this journey has been eye-opening, humbling, and at times, completely surreal.

I talk about the real #1 factor in winning local elections (hint: it’s not what I thought when I started), how I’m balancing an all-consuming campaign with showing up for my family, and the lessons I wish I’d known from day one.

Most importantly, I end this season with a call to action: support the local candidates in your community. Even $10 can make a difference in getting great people — not career politicians — into office.

This one’s personal, candid, and a reminder that no matter how tough the fight, you can’t stop me from being me.

Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Hitting my first campaign filing deadline and raising $160K

• Why fundraising matters more than anything else in local politics

• The Elvis “Fun Day Monday” incident and what it taught me about competition

• How national politics can ripple into local races — for better or worse

• Balancing community events with my commitment to family