Public Affairs Campaign of the Year

Honors the most effective advocacy or issue campaign that successfully shaped public opinion, influenced policy, or advanced an organizational mission through strategic communication and coalition-building.

Ballot Measure Campaign of the Year

Recognizes excellence in campaigns that influenced ballot initiatives through compelling voter education, messaging, and mobilization strategies that led to measurable success or narrative change.

Data & Analytics Innovator of the Year

Celebrates groundbreaking use of data science and analytics in driving campaign decisions, improving efficiency, and delivering measurable strategic impact.

Fundraiser of the Year

Honors the strategist or team whose creativity and innovation in donor engagement, digital strategy, or event planning achieved outstanding fundraising results and sustainability.

Down-ballot Campaign Manager of the Year (State/Local)

Recognizes the campaign manager who delivered exceptional leadership, strategy, and results in a state legislative, mayoral, or local race through innovation, discipline, and grassroots excellence.

Campaign Manager of the Year (Federal/Statewide)

Honors the top campaign director for a federal or statewide race whose vision, strategy, and execution set the standard for excellence in modern campaigning.

Most Valuable Player of the Year

Celebrates the unsung hero of a campaign—the strategist, staffer, or consultant whose extraordinary dedication, innovation, and problem-solving made a pivotal difference.

Pollster of the Year

Recognizes outstanding leadership and innovation in political research, including methodological excellence, accuracy, and strategic insight that directly shaped campaign outcomes.

Independent Expenditure Campaign of the Year

Honors the most effective independent effort that influenced an election through creative strategy, execution, and measurable impact while maintaining integrity and independence.

Down-Ballot Campaign of the Year (State/Local)

Celebrates exceptional campaign strategy and execution for state legislative, mayoral, or local offices, highlighting creativity, grassroots engagement, and overperformance within smaller-scale races.

Major Campaign of the Year (Federal/Statewide)

Recognizes outstanding achievement in large-scale campaigning for federal or statewide office, showcasing innovation, leadership, and excellence in message integration and voter persuasion.

Recipients of the Excellence Awards do not need to be AAPC members. Awards are made at the sole discretion of the AAPC. AAPC reserves the right to consider nominations in categories other than originally submitted