Satisfying Needs To Win Elections

Connections Win Elections By Overcoming Distortions

Personal relationships can falter through stereotypes that distort words and actions. Political relationships are similar. Familiarity, approachability, situation language, and synchronizing similarities can create connections that lead to success in both kinds of relationships.

In 2000, an acquaintance wanted advice for improving her relationship with a coworker. I listed three steps, expecting them to improve the relationship. I didn’t expect them to transform the relationship from continually painful to mutually beneficial. Ten years later, I finally figured out why those steps ended the stereotypes and distortions. Each step satisfied one need —  physical, mental, emotional. I now call this my PME strategy.

Breaking Glass Ceilings

I applied PME to breaking glass ceilings, identifying 3 steps for each type of need. PME is now part of my SOPY strategy: Situation / Other People / You. PME is the You portion. After the 2024 election, I looked for Democratic candidates who won elections by making connections.

Lyndon Johnson

As Congressional aide, Lyndon Johnson became familiar to other aides in his rooming house by taking several showers a day to “run into” them. After winning an election to lead their “Little Congress,” he invited secretaries, elevator operators, and other working class people to participate in political discussions.

Ron Kind

Wisconsin Congressman Ron Kind stayed in Congress for 26 years because voters could approach him. After winning his first election, Ron Kind remained attentive to voters. I listened to a number of his conference calls with voters. He came on the phone right away. Voter after voter took their turns, speaking directly to Ron and describing a difficulty in their lives. Ron explained what his office could do, naming the staffer who would contact the voter. The difficulties revealed the callers were mostly working class.

Ruben Gallego

Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego won the Senate seat in Arizona with situation language that spoke to what voters want for immigration. His words about the border and immigration satisfied the needs of Republican voters.

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

Washington State Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez synchronized her criticisms of the Democratic Party with similar criticisms from working class Republicans in her district. At times she votes against Democratic Party desires to vote for her community. Her recommendations for future candidates include “parents of young kids, people in rural communities, people in the trades.” (New York Times interview) They would be candidates who could synchronize similarities with voters.

Physical / Mental / Emotional Steps
For Satisfying Needs & Winning Elections

Familiarity is a physical step of PME, based on proximity opportunities. Approachability and attentiveness are also physical steps based on body language.  The third physical step is clique cancel. Situation language and synchronizing similarities are mental steps. The first mental step is in ears / out mouths. Emotional steps include gratitude gifts, celebration cheers, and positivity promotions.

Satisfying physical, mental, and emotional needs can improve personal relationships. Satisfying those needs could also improve civic and political relationships. Politicians looking to the next election would do well to start satisfying needs now for creating connections with voters. Connections win elections because people hire / promote / vote for people who are similar.

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© Paula M. Kramer, 2025
All rights reserved.