[Note: This entry was originally posted on Politics Magazine.]

It goes without saying that America is currently experiencing a hyper-political moment. Every day, it seems, another veteran incumbent retires or faces a surprise intraparty challenge. 

This unforgiving and hostile environment means politicians will be even more sensitive to criticism, and more receptive to messages from constituents back home, than normal. 

For advocacy professionals, this is what’s called an opportunity.

As spring turns into summer and summer turns into fall, look for advocacy organizations of all shapes and sizes--corporations, trade associations, labor unions, left-leaning, right leaning--to work overtime to inject their priority issues into top-tier congressional races.

The psychology behind this strategy is …