The honest answer is 'it depends', and anyone quoting you a universal number is selling something. Response rates swing wildly with list quality, how warm the contact is, the format (RCS beats SMS), and the ask. A sharp, consented GOTV reminder behaves nothing like a cold persuasion blast. Your benchmark is last week's you.
What actually moves the number
List warmth (opted-in supporters respond far more than cold voter-file contacts), the clarity of the ask (one question beats a wall of text), format (verified RCS lifts engagement), and timing. Change these and your rate moves; change nothing and no benchmark saves you.
Measure against yourself
Set your own baseline, then test one variable at a time, a shorter message, a different send time, RCS instead of SMS, and watch your rate. Improvement you can attribute beats a competitor's number you can't verify or replicate.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good response rate for campaign texts?
There's no universal number, it depends on list warmth, targeting, format, and the ask. Consented, well-targeted messages with a clear question engage far more than cold blasts. Track and beat your own baseline.
How do I improve my text response rate?
Warm up the list (opted-in beats cold), sharpen the ask to one clear question, use RCS where supported, and test send timing, changing one variable at a time so you know what worked.
Informational, not legal advice.
Keep reading: How do I write a GOTV text that works and RCS for campaigns: the richer text explained.