POLITICO

Andrew thought politicians in D.C. were clowns. Then he became one

By ANDREW ROSS SORKIN

I knew right away I had to run for Congress. I was 32, living in Washington, and had just finished covering the 2008 presidential election for The New York Times Magazine.

Campaigning was like riding a roller coaster for a year: terrifying, euphoric, exhausting, and never boring. The only downside was I lost. But losing didn't really feel like losing. I had learned more in one year on the campaign trail than I had in 30 years of life.

I learned that most politicians aren't clowns. In fact, they're incredibly hard-working, well-intentioned people who want to make a difference in the world.

I also learned that politics is a lot harder than it looks. It's not just about getting elected. It's also about governing. And governing is about making tough choices—choices that often have no easy answers.

I'm still not sure if I want to run for Congress again. But I'm grateful for the opportunity to have served my country. And I'm proud of the work I did while I was in office.

If you're thinking about running for office, I encourage you to do it. It's the most rewarding experience you can have.