Going Pro? Political Campaign Consulting and the Professional Model

Abstract

Does the sociological model of professionalism apply to the occupation of political campaign consulting? Using survey data from consultants involved in U.S. Congressional campaigns as well as in-person interviews, this article describes how consultants see their role in shaping campaigns and appraises their degree of consensus regarding appropriate campaign strategy and occupational behavior. Although consultants face some structural barriers to professionalization, the results suggest that they have the key components for a successful professional project: occupational institutions, a base of applied knowledge, and a service ethic. This consultant professionalization has important implications for the structure and content of modern campaigns.