Hi John,

We need to talk honestly about what happened five years ago today when extremists stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn a free and fair election.

We need to talk about it honestly because January 6 wasn’t a fluke. It was a warning.

It was a warning about what happens when disinformation goes unchecked, when institutions are hollowed out, and when too many people feel locked out of power. It was a warning about how fragile our democracy really is.

That warning feels even more urgent today because the man who incited that violence is back in office.

And yet, there is real cause for hope: Hundreds of thousands of young people are raising their hand, ready to run for office and help build durable safeguards to make sure it never happens again.

John, join me in helping these would-be candidates—teachers, renters, caregivers, organizers—by starting a monthly gift of $15 today. Pooled together, monthly donations from 2,500+ supporters like you are helping with the cost of coaching, mentorship, and the tools that our candidates need to win and govern with integrity.

Or, make a one-time gift instead.

You and I both know that democracy isn’t protected by slogans or speeches alone. It’s protected by school board members who defend inclusive education. City councilors who know their community members. State legislators who believe in accountability and the rule of law.

That’s why Run for Something exists in the first place. We’re here to recruit, train, and support young, diverse progressives to run for local and state office, the level of government closest to people’s lives, and often the first line of defense against extremism.

This work isn’t symbolic. It’s strategic. And with more than 100,000 state and local races on the ballot this year, we have our work cut out for us.

That’s why I’m asking you to start a monthly gift today. With your help, we’ll find candidates rooted in their communities and give them access to tools and training they can’t get anywhere else.

Or, make a one-time gift if now isn’t the right time to start a monthly donation.

Local officials oversee elections. They fund schools. They shape public safety. They decide whether lies take root or whether truth and accountability still matter in public life.

If we want to protect democracy nationally, we have to build it locally.

Thank you for your support, and for joining us in the belief that protecting our country’s future starts by building power from the bottom up.

Yours,

Amanda Litman
Co-Founder & President
Run for Something

We change the system by changing who’s in it. We start local, build the bench, and shape the future from the bottom up. Together, we’ve already helped win over 1,000 elections.

This work is made possible thanks to thousands of grassroots donors who give a little each month to fuel big change. Become a monthly donor today and help our candidates keep running—and winning.

Photo Credit: Charles Edward Miller from Chicago, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Interested in volunteering or mentoring young, first-time candidates running for local office? We’ll connect you with our amazing candidates! Click here to find out more about volunteering and mentoring opportunities.

Throw everything you know about politics out the window. You’re qualified to run for local office — we’re here to help! Click here to find out more.

Privacy Policy