You got it - case in point, those running in office will send out their local volunteers on the ground, go around door to door & get your signature on their petitions to be on the ballot - they have your names, address & phone number (yes, amazing ....) - calling you on election day to get out the votes.

A month or two later, once they are sworn it, good luck in hearing from them unless you are a fat cat (major donor). Cycle repeat itself, 6 to 12 months before re-election, newsletters & emails start hitting your mail/in-boxes again - time for that signature or contribution.

Visit the Hill, you meet the receptionist/secretary, wait, maybe greeted by an aide or legislative or constituion affairs director, watch the Congressional Pages running their errands and consider yourself really lucky if your member is ACTUALLY in the office & get to say hello & chat for 5 minutes + photo ops (and NOT on the floor voting or tied up on a roll call, hearing, etc. / away on an urgent matter)