Run for Something Is Three Years Old! 🎂🎂🎂🎂
On January 20, 2017 Run for Something launched with one goal: recruit and elect as many first-time progressive candidates to state and local office as possible.
For decades, Republicans (and especially Republican donors like the Koch brothers) have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in winning state legislative races, and while their local and municipal work is harder to track, they’ve also focused on elections as local as those for school board. We realized, early on, that our sole focus could not be federal office — we had to invest our attention and energy in seats up and down the ballot. Lucky for us, we weren’t the only ones who felt that way.
Since launching, over 45,000 people have raised their hand to run for office. Folks from different backgrounds — rural, urban, moms, teachers, social works, activists — who knew they could contribute by lending their voice as an elected official, stepped up to run for something.
Today, we have helped put more than 300 first-time candidates into down-ballot seats across 45 states. These candidates have gone on to do good work, helping create progressive infrastructures that will last for decades. Just last week, the Virginia State Assembly — now led by Democrats — voted to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. For those of you that don’t know, this makes Virginia the 38th and final state needed to ratify the Amendment for inclusion in the US Constitution. This charge was largely led by Jennifer Carroll Foy, a military veteran, mother of two, and RFS alum who told us under no uncertain terms, “When I’m elected to office, we will pass the ERA.”
The work of these candidates goes beyond legislation. We’ve seen candidates like Carlos Garcia win and subsequently open doors for other Latinx immigrants who are interested in electoral politics. Candidates like Hadiya Afzal and Rachel Junck — both of whom have not yet turned 27 — have inspired dozens of other gen-z leaders to run for office. Historic candidates like Brianna Titone and Danica Roem have opened the door for more transgender candidates to run for seats in their respective state legislatures. These candidates are more than cosmetic diversity; they are breaking barriers and changing the face of our democracy for the better.
There’s a lot to celebrate, but we know the work is far from over. On November 3, we have the opportunity to win sustainable power by electing more progressive candidates to down-ballot seats. Winning the White House won’t be enough.
With the US Census currently underway and the redistricting process afterwards, we have to make sure we have Democrats in key seats in state legislatures so the GOP can’t further rig the system. This is our once in a decade chance to return power back to progressive leaders and make sure we have a seat at the table. We need leaders on the Hill, in state chambers, sitting on city council, leading their local school boards, and performing the work of city and county clerks.
In short, if we want to beat the GOP, we have to invest in every candidate on the ballot.
As we head into our third year (!!!) I want to thank everyone who has contributed their time, skills, and yes, money to this cause. Your generosity has made the last three years possible. In 2019, we had more support than ever before — but we need your help to continue this work. Our budget is nothing in the grand scheme of things. But it’s everything to us, to our candidates, and to the millions of people counting on better health care, cleaner water, easier access to the polls, and more. Help us in 2020 and sign up to donate today.
Three years, 300 wins, and we’re just getting started.
