Political Memes

Start in highly walkable areas

Functionally non-existent in the suburbs and exurbs.

Go for seats that aren’t typically contested so the national money isn’t showing up.

These seats are uncontested because they're the safest, either due to gerrymandering or natural partisan disposition. In cases like this, you are far better off challenging an incumbent in a primary (as AOC did in NY-14) than the general. But to challenge a candidate in a primary, you need to be a member of the party.

Run for city or council seats first so your name brand builds

Plenty of candidates go this route. But, again, you run into the incumbency racket. Municipal offices in urban districts (you know, the places with highly walkable areas?) have residencies in the hundreds-of-thousands.

That said, if you look at where Green/Libertarian candidates are most successful, this is it. The non-partisan nature of the districts, combined with the large number of no-name candidates who aim for the position, can produce the occasional opportunity for a Green pickup. It's not a bad idea on face, but still difficult under the best of circumstances.

Open community service organizations that are co-branded with your party

Once again, a thing that requires large quantities of money. This is the crux of any "Why don't you just start more grassroots-like with your organization?" critique. You need money. And if you've got money, you'll just align with one of the two big parties that explicitly cater to the wealthy.

There are ways of doing it.

In terra nullis conditions, sure. But when all the turf is stacked out, you're swimming against the tide.