The races are changing…

In 2020 we have watched many of our democratic institutions erode and the systemic racism baked into our democracy has been laid bare. However, women, transgender, genderqueer, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people need to keep working towards equal representation in set the legislative agenda, fight for systemic change and help create an equitable future.

In United States women, transgender and gender nonbinary people are running for office in record numbers — from local elections to Congressional seats folx are fighting for their seat at the table. According to the Center for American Women and Politics the number women in State Legislatures has quintupled since 1971 and there are a record number of women running for U.S. Congressional seats in 2020.[1] In 2020 “the number of candidates [running for office] identifying as genderqueer, nonbinary or gender-nonconforming jumped considerably, from 6 to 25, marking a 325 percent increase from 2018.”[2] Although growing numbers of women, transgender and gender nonbinary people are running our representation in national office is below the global average. Gender parity in Congressional leadership in the U.S. ranks 75th of 193 countries according to 2019 data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union.[3]

We can’t sit back and wait for someone to invite us to the table. We have to break down the barriers and transform into an entirely new table.

If you are thinking of running…

  • Victory Institute the only national organization dedicated to elevating openly LGBTQ leaders who can further equality at all levels of government.

  • The Ascend Fund committed to accelerating the pace of change toward gender parity in U.S. politics.

  • Higher Heights for America the political home for Black women and our allies to unleash our collective organizing power from the voting booth to elected office.

  • She Should Run a nonpartisan nonprofit working to dramatically increase the number of women considering a run for public office.

  • LatinasRepresent an initiative led by the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda to increase Latina participation throughout the civic engagement continuum, inspire more Latinas to seek public service opportunities and create a more reflective democracy.

  • EMILY's List seeks to put women into office who can make significant contributions to education, health care, voting rights, and economic equality.

  • Advance Native Political Leadership addresses the strength, structural barriers and opportunities to getting Native Americans into elected leadership.

  • The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies a national non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Asian Pacific American participation and representation at all levels of the political process, from community service to elected office.

  • IGNITE a movement of young women who are ready and eager to become the next generation of political leaders.

  • National Council on Independent Living advances independent living and the rights of people with disabilities.

  • VOTE RUN LEAD trains barrier breaking women to unleash their political power, run for office, and transform American Democracy.

  • Get Her Elected an initiative where people from all over the world offer their skills pro bono to progressive women candidates running for office at all levels of U.S. government.

  • Running Start a nonpartisan nonprofit that trains young women to run for public office.

**All descriptions were pulled from each organizations website**

[1] https://cawp.rutgers.edu/women-state-legislature-2020.

[2]https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/over-500-lgbtq-candidates-appear-november-ballots-shattering-records-n1242961

[3]https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/04/the-us-ranks-75th-in-womens-representation-in-government.html