The Pollie Awards. "The Oscars of Political Advertising," Esquire. The industry's highest honor. The Pollie Awards. "The Oscars of Political Advertising," Esquire. The industry's highest honor.
Entries openNovember 3, 2026
Contest closesJanuary 25, 2027
Enter Now Key Dates
About the Pollies

Why Enter the 2027 Pollies

The Pollies are the industry's highest honor, and the only political awards held to the AAPC Code of Ethics. Your work is judged by the people who know it best: fellow campaign professionals from both parties.

AAPC members pay lower entry fees. Not a member? Join AAPC

250+judges from both parties
190categories in three divisions
4 Decadeshonoring the best political work
The Pollie Award trophy on stage
The Pollie Award
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Categories

From mail and TV to field, polling and AI.

View categories
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Rules & Fees

Eligibility, pricing and deadlines.

Read the rules
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FAQ

Entering, uploading, judging and winning.

See the FAQ
Judging

The Gold Standard of Political Excellence

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Judging is blind. Firm and client names stay hidden, and judges sit out any entry their firm worked on.

Judges score each entry on how well it met its goal. Creativity and execution count, but political effectiveness counts most.

Pollie winners are selected for one reason: excellence that works.

Judging runs February 1 to 12, 2027.

Timeline

Key Dates

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  • Nov 3Contest opens
  • Nov 23Pay Now, Finish Later deadlinePay by this date and finish your entry later.
  • Dec 11Early Bird pricing ends
  • Jan 22Regular pricing ends
  • Jan 25Contest closesLate pricing applies January 23 to 25.
  • Feb 1Judging begins
  • Feb 12Judging endsWinners are notified before the Pollie Awards.

All deadlines are 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

Start Your Entry
In Their Words

What Winners Say About the Pollies

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“Film has the Oscars. Music has the Grammys. In politics, our biggest night is the Pollies, and [it] is our highest honor.”

Dean NielsenCerillion N4 Partners, Pollie winner

The Pollie Awards allow your work to succeed on its own merits and, should it be deemed worthy, recognized regardless of contacts, name recognition, or media attention.

Loren MerchanAuthentic Campaigns, Pollie winner

It's hard to win a Pollie--the competition is tough. We've won our share and been shut out. The reward is immediate when your peers recognize your entries as Pollie worthy. After all, we need our campaign communications to stand out to voters.

Scott AdamsGreen Alley Strategies, Pollie winner

The Pollie Awards give an opportunity for prospective clients to know that our work is respected on a national level.

Amile WilsonHapax Creative Strategies, Pollie winner

The Pollie Awards is the only political ad competition our firm will enter. For decades now, it's set the standard for excellence.

Mark PutnamPutnam Partners, Pollie winner
Special Awards

More Ways to Be Recognized

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40 Under 40

Honoring 40 rising political professionals under 40.

Submit a Nomination

Campaign Excellence

Honoring the people behind a winning campaign's strategy and management.

Submit a Nomination
Entries open November 3, 2026

Your Best Work Belongs on This Stage

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Enter by December 11 for Early Bird pricing. The contest closes January 25, 2027.

Enter Now View Categories
Questions about the contest? Email contest@theaapc.org.