By Janet Cook
Good for
Women make an enormous difference in the state legislature; just imagine the thrill of being able to solve
Deciding to run is rarely an overnight decision; we like to think of it as an exploration.
If you are just getting started:
- Read a good book about running for office, such as Rebecca Sive’s “Every Day is Election Day: A Woman’s Guide to Winning Any Office, from the PTA to the White House.”
- Join an organization, if you haven’t already, that supports women candidates – see our list of Allies and Organizations committed to gender parity in politics.
- Volunteer on a political campaign!
Delve into our website:
closethegapca.org is filled with information you will find on no other website. Our campaign recruits talented, progressive women to run for winnable, open seats in the CA Legislature. While we focus exclusively on the State Legislature, some of our resources will be helpful to people considering races at other levels, such as City Council or County Supervisor or the U.S. Congress.
- Learn about Our Campaign. This section will clarify what Close the Gap California can do with prospective candidates for the State Legislature as they explore the possibility of running. Note, we can only work with a candidate before she files to run.
- Read 10 Origin Stories Women Legislators Share, which describes common attributes of successful female legislators, such as activists with roots in their communities. Plus, check out the skill sets we’d love to see more of, such as social entrepreneurs and thought leaders.
- Invest some serious time reviewing and taking stock on the topics featured in our Prospective Candidate Self-Assessment Tool. You’ll be amazed at how it can inform your exploration and future planning.
- Feel free to Contact Us at Close the Gap California with further questions.
Keep exploring!
