Locate state-based and national resources for women interested in elected or appointed office or work on political campaigns. 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 Cai Barias.
| Program | State(s) | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Campaign Trainings
Hawaii Republican Party The Hawaii Republican Party holds a state convention every year. This two-day conference includes trainings on grassroots campaigning, running for state party officer, fundraising, campaign management, and others. |
Hawaii | Rep |
| Campaign Trainings
Maryland Democratic Party The Maryland Democratic Party, through a partnership with the DNC Best Practices Institute and National Democratic Training Committee offers four yearly trainings for candidates, prospective or otherwise. |
Maryland | Dem |
| 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
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 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
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 |
| Candidate Training Program
Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, University of Virginia The Sorensen Institute's Candidate Training Program (CTP) is an intensive, four-day program focused on the fundamentals of a winning campaign for office. |
Virginia | Nonpartisan |
| Candidate Workshops
Veterans Campaign Veterans Campaign's two-day training sessions are specifically designed to educate, encourage, and motivate veterans to continue their commitment to public service by running for elected office. Program curriculum progresses in five stages: laying the groundwork for your campaign, getting your campaign of the ground, financing your campaign, and taking your campaign into the home stretch. Program instructors are office-holding veterans, campaign operatives, professional fundraisers, and representatives of veteran-oriented political action committees who value and understand the mechanics of electing veterans to public office. |
District of Columbia | Nonpartisan |
| Carol's List
The purpose of Carol’s List is to recruit, train, elect, and otherwise support progressive Democratic women to elected office, in order to represent Montanans across the state in various levels of government. |
Montana | Dem |
| Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics
Iowa State University Founded in 1992, the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics provides leadership development and educational opportunities for women and men interested in politics and public service through programs blending the resources and scholarship of the academic environment with the actual experiences of individuals in the public and private sectors. The Center: / -- Offers leadership development, mentoring and educational opportunities to ISU students / -- Fosters research on issues related to women and politics through the Archives of Women's Political Communication, annual Carrie Chapman Catt Prize for Research on Women and Politics, and studies conducted by Center staff and students / -- Brings prominent women leaders, national and international scholars, and political activists and practitioners to campus for lectures, programs and seminars; and / -- Encourages women to pursue careers in politics, public administration and public service through its mentoring and leadership development programs. |
Iowa | Nonpartisan |