How to Be a Wingman (a.k.a. The Robin to Their Batman)

A list for every candidate's wingman to keep your campaign sane

Every political candidate dreams of being the bold, fearless superhero charging into rallies, knocking on doors, and making big speeches. But behind every Batman is a Robin—someone grounded, prepared, and always three steps ahead with a lint roller and a granola bar. The wingman is not just a sidekick; they are the secret weapon. They make sure the candidate shows up hydrated, stain-free, emotionally intact, and exactly where they’re supposed to be. In the chaotic whirlwind of campaign season—where days blur, phones die, and people forget to eat—being the wingman means keeping the mission on track, the team organized, and the candidate from unraveling into a puddle of stress sweat and misplaced talking points.

You will need to have a variety of bags;

1. Car Emergency Kit

2. Medical First Aid Kit

3. Campaign Materials Bag

4. Personal Bag that stays in Car

5. Cooler Bag for food and drink

6. Fanny Pack or smaller bag that goes inside events with Candidate

7. Mental Health Tool Kit

🚗 Car Emergency Kit:

• Car Jumper Cables

• Fix a Flat for the car

• Small Leatherman

• Duck Tape

• Flashlight

💊 Medical First Aid Kit

• Small Pill Small Pill Organizer: Advil, Tylenol, Tums, Pepto tablets, Imodium, Allergy Meds, Extra personal meds, Vitamins

• Water

• Hand Sanitizer

• Variety of Bandages

• Antibacterial Ointment

• Cough drops or Ginger drops

📦 Campaign Materials Bag

• Extra Swag

• Push Cards

• Buttons

• Business cards

• Email list Signup Sheets

• Clipboards

👜 Personal Bag (stays in the car)

• Sewing Kit

• Umbrella & Rain Poncho

• Tide Pen, Clorox Pen, Shout Wipes

• Name Badge

• Mouthwash, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss Picks

• Gum, Mints, Tic Tacs, Listerine strips, Cough Drops

• Chapstick or Lip Moisturizer

• Sunblock, Bug Repellent, Liquid IV

• Deodorant

• Hairbrush, Hairspray, Hair Ties, Small Hair Dryer

• Hand Lotion, Small Mirror

• Travel Makeup & Lipstick Kit

• Ear Plugs, Eye Mask

• Eyeglasses, Sunglasses, Contacts + Solution

• Eye Drops

• Cologne/Perfume Spray

• Kleenex

• Makeup Remover Wipes

• Tampons & Pads (if applicable)

• Bobby Pins, Toothpicks, Lint Roller

• Baby Wipes

• Gel Inserts for Shoes

• Nail Clippers, Emery Board, Nail Polish Remover

🧊 Cooler Bag (for food + drink)

• Water

• Favorite soda

• Favorite snacks

• Protein drinks

• Energy bars

• Emergen-C or Liquid IV

• Chocolate

• Tea - Variety (English Breakfast to Chamomile)

👚 Clothing

• Extra Shirt or outfit

• Underware

• Socks

• Double sided tape to close gaps in clothes

✏️ Office Supplies

• Pens, Pencils, Sharpies

• Notepads, Sticky notes

• Scissors, Rubber bands

• Binder clips,Paper Clips, safety pins

• Tape, Glue stick, White out

🔌 Technology

• Phone chargers

• Battery power banks (charged!)

• Thumb drive

🎒 Fanny Pack or Small Event Bag

• Pen, Pencil, Sharpie

• Notepad, Post-It Notes

• Gum, Mints

• Small Scissors

• Nail clippers

• Business cards

📋 Other Essentials

• AAA Insurance Card (because you just never know)

• Clear paper holders for the Daily Itinerary

• Printed List of Fundraising Call-Time Calls

🧠 Mental Health Toolkit

• A good playlist

• A podcast episode to decompress

• A meme folder for emergency morale boosts

• Deep breathing techniques / meditation app

• A reminder or Mantra: This too shall pass (but only if we win)

So there you have it—your Wingman Survival Kit, aka the Bag Lady Starter Pack for Democracy. You may not be the one giving the stump speech, but you’ll be the one who saves the day when the mic cord goes missing, the zipper breaks, or someone’s blood sugar crashes five minutes before go-time. You’re the snack-wielding, Sharpie-toting, emotional support human every campaign deserves. It’s not always glamorous (you will, at some point, hold sweaty jackets and possibly cry in a Walgreens parking lot), but it’s noble work. And remember: behind every great candidate is a slightly sleep-deprived, over-prepared legend with duct tape in one hand and Liquid I.V. in the other. Be that legend.

Yours in Resistance,

Nancy Thompson