Locate state-based and national resources for women interested in elected or appointed office or work on political campaigns, made possible with support from the Hunt Alternatives Fund. Find leadership development and campaign training programs, political action committees, and organizations and programs committed to supporting and encouraging women in politics.
Need more ideas on how to get involved? Check out the Women's Definitive Guide to Getting Political by CAWP associate director Jean Sinzdak.
If you know of other organizations to add to our list or have updates to our information, please contact Chelsea Hill.
Program | State(s) | Party |
---|---|---|
Campaign Trainings
Maryland Democratic Party The Maryland Democratic Party runs annual regional summits on various campaign-related topics, open to all Maryland Democrats. |
Maryland | Dem |
Campaign Trainings
Maryland Republican Party The Maryland Republican Party holds trainings about once a month on campaign-related topics. Training content and participants vary, with some trainings held for potential candidates and others targeting current candidates or campaign staff. The trainings are posted online when scheduled. |
Maryland | Rep |
Campaign Trainings
Minnesota Republican Party The Minnesota Republican Party holds periodic candidate trainings that are posted on the MN GOP website as scheduled, in addition to other trainings for candidates and campaigns. Individuals interested in running or learning more about the process can contact any member of the MN GOP's candidate search committee. |
Minnesota | Rep |
Campaign Trainings
Tennessee Democratic Party The Tennessee Democratic Party runs campaign trainings throughout the year. Open to any Tennessee Democrat, they cover a variety of topics and are held in locations throught out the state. |
Tennessee | Dem |
Campaign Trainings
Utah Democratic Party The Utah Democratic Party holds campaign trainings providing campaign guidance and materials for all those running for office on the Utah Democratic platform. |
Utah | Dem |
Campaign Trainings
Vermont Republican Party The Vermont Republican Party holds campaign trainings for candidates filed with the Republican Party during election years. Individuals considering running can call the Party to get information from a party official. |
Vermont | Rep |
Campaign Trainings
Washington State Republican Party The Washington Republican Party holds campaign trainings at least once a year, open to any Republican within the state. Trainings are typically one day long and focus on how to run a political campaign. |
Washington | Rep |
Campaign Trainings
Wisconsin Republican Party The Wisconsin Republican Party runs trainings every few months. Information and schedules for these day-long trainings are provided through the state's GOP headquarters. |
Wisconsin | Rep |
Campaign Workshops
West Virginia Democratic Party The West Virginia Democratic Party runs a campaign workshop at least once a year open to any West Virginia Democrat. Information is provided through the Party headquarters. |
West Virginia | Dem |
Campaign/Candidate Training
Texas Democratic Party The Texas Democratic Party runs campaign and candidate trainings several times a year that vary in topic and length. Some trainings are open to all Texas Democrats while others are open only to declared candidates or campaign staff. |
Texas | Dem |
Candidate 101 Training
Annie's List The program is tailored for progressive, Democratic women who are considering a run for elective office at any level. The trainings are full-day, in-depth workshops exploring the building blocks of campaign communication, fundraising, planning, media relations and grassroots activism needed to run a professional, competitive campaign |
Texas | Dem |
Candidate Boot Camp
Candidate Boot Camp offers online candidate training and free resources for those considering running for office. |
National | Nonpartisan |
Candidate School
Operation Clean Government Operation Clean Governments Candidate School has offered a non-partisan educational seminar in Rhode Island every election year since 2002. Designed to broaden citizen involvement in state and local government, the day-long progarm prepares citizens to get involved and succeed in the political process, from volunteering for campaigns to managing a race or running for office. |
Rhode Island | Nonpartisan |
Candidate Schools
Eleanor's Legacy Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee (ELRC) Candidate Schools help women develop the skills they need to win elections. These day-long intensive training experiences across New York State enable potential candidates to formulate a campaign strategy specific to their race and individual goals. Candidate Schools are open to all pro-choice Democratic women currently running for office or planning a future run. |
New York | Dem |
Candidate Training
North Dakota Democratic Party-NPL Headquarters North Dakota Democratic Party offers trainings focused on leadership training and issues related to campaigning. For information about training, contact the ND Democratic state headquarters. |
North Dakota | Dem |
Candidate Training
Rhode Island Democratic Party The Rhode Island Democratic Party runs a campaign training in the spring of each election year for invited candidates. |
Rhode Island | Dem |
Candidate Training
Jennifer Dunn Leadership Institute The Jennifer Dunn Leadership Institute recruits and trains leaders in Washington State who are thinking about entering the arena of politics as candidates or staffers and who are committed to the principles of freedom, security, entrepreneurial free enterprise, and a return of conservative principles of governance. The Institute, held three days a week over two weeks, teaches its students about campaigns and about how to be a candidate. Topics include Situational Leadership, Leadership Point of View, and Interim Team Assignment. The JDLI's first class of fourteen completed their training in October 2009, and the program hopes to hold two trainings per year, in addition to abbreviated classes targeting in-demand topics. The first training included a session specifically focusing on women and politics. |
Washington | Rep |
Candidate Training
GOPAC Founded in 1979, GOPAC is a national organization dedicated exclusively to electing Republicans to state and local offices. The organization provides candidate and campaign training, primarily through online resources. |
National | Rep |
Candidate Training
MI List Founded in 2004, MI List is a statewide organization and donor network dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women to the Michigan legislature and key local offices. MI List strategically recruits and supports pro-choice Democratic women to create a farm team of viable candidates to run for elected office; they coordinate campaign trainings with EMILY's List, a national PAC for pro-choice women. |
Michigan | Dem |
Candidate Training
National Women's Political Caucus NWPC hosts training programs to provide women with the skills needed to run campaigns as candidates, to serve as staff, and to be effective volunteers. |
California | Nonpartisan |