Engage Candidates
Will Candidates Raise their Hands for Kids?
2026 is another election year. Candidates are running to serve in Congress, state houses and at the local level.
It’s vital that the critical needs of children are front and center.
How You Can Help
You can help by asking candidates to prioritize expanding early learning and addressing child hunger.
Find candidates
Start at the candidates’ websites. Sign up for the email updates. Look at their events page for upcoming appearances. Follow them on social media. As election day gets closer, local news outlets may also share updates about candidate appearances, debates, and forums.
Prepare your questions
Have your question ready to go. If you have a personal connection to the question, incorporate into your question. Try to practice a few times before you arrive. See some sample questions below.
Arrive early and be visible
Once you have found an opportunity to ask a candidate a question, be sure to arrive early. Find a spot near the front or in the aisle where the candidate will see you. Be sure to wear your Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) t-shirt to the event. A friendly smile can go a long way to engaging with the candidate.
Take a photo
After the event, ask the candidate if you can take a photo with them. Share this with your SCAN staff contact and post to your social media pages. Be sure to tag SCAN when you post at:
Facebook: @SavetheChildrenAction
Twitter:
@SCActionNetwork
Instagram: @thefuturetomorrow
Follow up
Share your experience with your SCAN staff contact. If the candidate asked you a question you couldn’t answer at the time, reach out to your SCAN staff person to help find the answer. Then follow up with the candidate or his/her/their staff with the information.
High 5 for Kids 2026 Candidate Questions
Early Childhood Education
Below are questions for candidates as volunteers engage them on the campaign trail. If you are engaging in state-level candidates, consider customizing the questions to align with your coalitions’ legislative agendas.
Early Childhood Education
- Head Start is a program that helps meet the educational, nutrition, and other needs of young children so they are ready to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. Less than half of eligible children participate in this effective program due to a lack of investment by Congress. Do you support the continuation of Head Start with additional resources allocated so more children can participate?
Appropriate for federal candidates only
- Child care costs are an enormous strain on families and the lack of affordable child care is a key barrier to parents entering the workforce. How will you make sure that high-quality child care is available for all families that need it?
Appropriate for both state and federal candidates
- Early childhood educators are underpaid resulting in recruitment and retention challenges. How will you make sure that child care workers are properly compensated?
Appropriate for both state and federal candidates
Food Insecurity
- The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps 42 million people – nearly half of whom are children – experiencing food insecurity. SNAP improves kids’ long-term health, and academic performance. What actions will you take to protect and strengthen SNAP?
Appropriate for both state and federal candidates
- With millions of children in the U.S. still going hungry, how will you make nutritious food more accessible for children and families in the U.S.?
Appropriate for both state and federal candidates
Foreign Assistance
Appropriate for federal candidates only
- Historically, U.S. foreign assistance has played a key role in promoting stronger economies, benefiting American’s businesses and promoting peace. Do you think that foreign assistance is a valuable tool of U.S. foreign policy?
- The United States has been a valuable partner to countries facing humanitarian crises. This life-saving support helps prevent illness, physical harm, and even death for children around the world. What role do you envision the U.S. playing to alleviate human suffering around the world?
Victoria Zegler
Add Your Voice
Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) shows up and speaks out for kids. Help us fight to give every child a strong start in life.
899 North Capitol Street NE, Suite 900
Washington D.C. 20002
(800) 243-5075
supportercare@savechildren.org
Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) was created in 2014 as the political advocacy arm of Save the Children, to be the political voice for kids. We work to ensure that the issues critical to children’s lives and futures are given top priority by our elected leaders, building bipartisan support to make sure every child has a strong start in life. As a 501(c)(4), gifts made to SCAN are not tax deductible.