The bottom line: you do have what it takes to run for office and your community needs your voice. Check out the free resources and tools in the She Should Run Resource Center to get started on your running for office journey!
Running without a party affiliation: running as an independent at the federal level can be challenging, but many local positions are nonpartisan, meaning you don’t need a party affiliation.
Running for office is too time consuming: running for office takes time and dedication, but that’s not to say that it’s utterly unmanageable. There will never be a “right” time to run, but it’s the right time if you care about your community and want to make a difference.
Politics is dirty: many Americans hold a negative view of politics and politicians–but that’s why we need you! We need more everyday Americans who understand the problems that their communities face and want to solve them. Voters like real, authentic people.
Not feeling qualified: here at She Should Run, we often say, “if you care, you’re qualified.” You don’t need a certain degree, background, or tons of money to run for office–just to meet the age and residency requirements! Trust us when we say: You have what it takes. 💪
When it comes to running for office, many women have the same questions–and the same reasons why they think they shouldn’t run. Let’s break some of them down 🧵
Last year, nearly half the world’s population had a major election, yet 27 new parliaments now have fewer women than they did pre-election. In fact, in nearly ⅔ of countries with confirmed results, the number of women elected decreased. We need to step it up when it comes to women’s representation!
Want to dip your toes into the world of elected leadership? Get started with the She Should Run Resource Center! We’ve got loads of guides, worksheets, quizzes, and courses to help you determine if running for office is right for you–and how to get started. 🏃♀️
Third, support women in your community who are running for office. Volunteer for their campaigns, attend their rallies, and talk to your neighbors about candidates you believe in. If we want to see more women in office, we need to support them when they run!
Second, think about running for office yourself. You don’t have to think as big as Congress–there are 500,000 elected positions across the country, most of which are local. Chances are, there’s a role that is a fit for you!
First, encourage a woman (or two or five) in your life to consider running for office. Our research shows that one of the best ways to motivate a woman to take on elected leadership is for people in her life to tell her that she should run!
Today, the 119th Congress was sworn in–and we’re seeing the first decline in women members of Congress since 2011. Here’s what we can do to change that ⬇️
Throughout his life, President Jimmy Carter truly cared about the challenges women face and how people can implement programs to help end discrimination.
Let us be the first to tell you this year: if you care, you’re qualified to run for office.
President Carter was an advocate for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, and during his term, he appointed 41 women to the federal judiciary, marking a 500 percent increase in the number of female federal judges. Our thoughts are with his loved ones.
The She Should Run team was saddened to learn of the passing of former president Jimmy Carter yesterday. President Carter was an advocate for gender equality, undertaking the fight for women’s rights far beyond his presidential career.
A pink graphic that reads "Happy holidays from She Should Run!"
Happy holidays from the She Should Run team! We’re wishing you a wonderful holiday season full of warmth, love, and light.
Thanks for the shoutout! 💙❤️
“I want to encourage women to... make a call and tell that woman in your life that you admire and adore, and... tell them that you're in it with them... Tell them how thankful you are for their courage... because we have got to keep our path lit together.” - Representative Wilburn
“What I would recommend women do after this is: center yourself. Figure out what your goals are and how you want to serve. And if it's elected office, do it.” - Senator Akbari
“If you’re not ready to be forward-facing, there is a woman whose campaign you can support.” - Representative Wilburn
“I don't want to say, be patient, because I don't like I don't like the narrative of ‘Wait your turn. Wait your time.’ [...] but I think if you're focused on the work, it will come.” - Senator Akbari
“My fear is that our young people become disenfranchised because they can't see the change because they have grown up in an instantaneous world. But if history is any teacher of our progress, we know that unity does prevail.” - Representative Wilburn
“Don’t spread yourself too thin. You can’t save the world, but you can save parts of it, and together, we can save the whole world.” - Senator Akbari
Last week, we hosted a town hall Q+A with Indiana State Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn and Tennessee State Senator Raumesh Akbari to respond to an influx of women interested in running for office. Here were some of our takeaways 🧵
We heard women might need some encouragement to run for office over here... so here we are!
