When there isn't a percieved available 'better' option, it becomes between 'worse' and 'less worse'. From that perspective it is just an appeal to hope for a better way to become available.
No, I haven't run for office. I'm active in my community and follow local politics closely. Fortunately there's some good people on council at the moment so I feel like my time is better spent other places. I've been involved in starting a nonprofit sports club and holy fuck, has that ever taught me a lot about the way the government runs and is structured. It's policies and forms all the way down.