RFS feel-good update (4/28): Our 2025 strategic plan is out!
Read it - plus, some beautiful notes from our last candidate intro call
Hi all -
First: We’ve officially rolled out our 2025 strategic plan. (A little later than usual — we’ve been a little busy; blame my maternity leave and the 42,000+ people who’ve signed up to run for office since Election Day!)
When we launched Run for Something on January 20, 2017, we had a vision, a plan, and a website — we set out to recruit and support young diverse leaders for state and local office in order to build sustainable power.
Eight years later, Run for Something is the premiere candidate recruitment organization in the country — and one of the few that stays with candidates from pre-campaign through Election Day.
When everything feels so bad, we’re staying focused on what feels good: Our hope for the future and our commitment to bringing new leaders into the fold.
Our 2025 strategic plan lays out our vision for rebuilding our democracy from the ground up and empowering the next generation of leaders to step forward and step up.
Looking to this year and into the next, we have two big priorities:
Run and win in 2025 to fight back and build the muscle of winning
Prepare to win big in 2026 (and lay the groundwork for winning well beyond that)
As we do those two things, the leaders we cultivate will be instrumental to rebuilding the party from the ground up.
Keep reading for more on how, why, and what you can do to help.
Next: Last week we hosted our monthly intro call for people thinking about running for office. Nearly 1000 people signed up for the call — a few of the comments from the chat and feedback afterwards:
“I’m running for state delegate because our current representative has been in hiding for two years. Good representation is a team sport.”
“I moved from a blue to a red state — it was a huge wake-up call. I want to turn this place neon blue one person at a time.”
“I’m sick of these spineless, childish politicians. I want actual change. Real solutions for and from people like me.”
“I decided to run for office because, for years, it has felt like my community has been left behind while the rest of New Orleans moves forward... I’m ready to take our voice to city hall.”
“Finding resources that give a workable blueprint for how to start running for something has proven difficult, and I’m genuinely appreciative that you all took the time to set this up.”
“I’m a semi-out trans woman and Walmart worker looking to get into local office to help my fellow LGBTQIA+ people and workers in general.”
“I’ve always cared about politics, but recently I realized: this isn’t a hobby. It’s a calling. The version of America we were taught to believe in is gone. I believe it's time to rebuild — and it starts with listening and showing up locally.”
“I’m a 30-year-old history teacher in NYC and I believe it’s time a new generation of leaders step up and deliver a progressive future for our city. We’ve got to make sure the greatest city in the world is a city where anyone can live a
nd thrive.”
“I’m committed to making a difference, but I had a lot of questions about how to get started doing so. The Run for Something training was very valuable and I’m very grateful for it.”
These calls are so moving and so meaningful for the people thinking about running. Stay tuned for details on our next one at the end of May.
In just a few RFS community updates:
Charlene Wang officially won a seat on the Oakland City Council!! Charlene has ambitious goals — the community is hopeful she’ll be able to lead the city forward.
West Hollywood mayor Chelsea Byers is ready to do whatever it takes to build more housing and make the city more affordable for families, and making sure it stays a haven for LGBTQ+ folks everywhere.
Thanks to the leadership of NYC Councilmember Chi Ossé, New Yorkers will no longer have to pay thousands of dollars in broker fees everytime they move. This is huge.
IA Rep. Larry McBurney helped pass a bipartisan bill to begin to allow psilocybin to be used to treat PTSD — Larry’s a veteran himself who was diagnosed with PTSD after three deployments.
Henrico (VA) School Board vice-chair Madison Irving is leading on banning cell phones in elementary schools and providing phone storage containers for middle and high schools.
OH Rep. Christine Cockley is leading on a new bipartisan law to help better track missing people across state lines.
NYC Councilmember Tiffany Cabán led on a broad legislative package aimed to strengthen civil rights protections and healthcare access to trans and gender-non conforming New Yorkers - one of the most comprehensive local packages of its kind in the country.
IN Rep. Alex Burton makes the case for how bad the Indiana GOP’s priorities are — and calls for an increased focus on K-12 public education and increased support for renters, among other key things to increase affordability.
PA Rep. Jessica Benham, the first openly autistic member of the PA general assembly, spoke out against RFK Jr’s dangerous comments about autism.
NE Sen. Megan Hunt is moving forward legislation to get kids in foster care more of the possible Social Security funding they’re entitled to.
In related reading:
I talked with NPR about how the new generation of Democrats challenging incumbents are doing a tough thing — and win or lose, they’re changing the game for who considers leadership an option.
I also talked with Semafor about how all of us need to be celebrating the senior Democrats who are stepping back and making space for new leaders — leaving with dignity and passing the torch should be complimented and revered!
I was delighted to join Pod Save America and chat all things Run for Something (& my upcoming book, When We’re in Charge!) — tune in wherever you get/watch your pods.
Relatedly, When We’re in Charge: The Next Generation’s Guide to Leadership, comes out in two weeks! You can get it wherever you get your books: Amazon // Bookshop.org -- use code AMANDA15 for 15% off all pre-orders! // Barnes & Noble // BAM!
The work continues. Thanks for making this all possible.
- Amanda
P.S. We’re having a special briefing on Wednesday specifically about our expanded Run for Something Civics (501c3) programming — if you’d like to learn more, just reply to this email and I can send you more details.
You mentioned your Maternity leave; I hope all went very well. Would you like to let us know?