"NEW YORK TIMES: Everytown for Gun Safety will spend $3 million to train its volunteers to run for office."
John,
I'm thrilled to announce the launch of Demand a Seat, Everytown Victory Fund's program to train Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers and gun violence survivors to run for office on the issue of gun safety.
Joined by two former volunteers who are now elected officials, I spoke to the New York Times about Demand a Seat: Check out what we had to say.
Demand a Seat will recruit, provide opportunities for mentorship, and train volunteers interested in running for office or running campaigns. We have one of the largest advocacy and political volunteer networks in the country, with highly engaged volunteers who have successfully changed the political calculus on gun safety. Demand a Seat will harness this energy by helping our volunteers shift from shaping gun safety policy to making policy.
Our volunteers aren't new to elected office. To date, 50 former volunteers have been elected to state legislatures and 18 to city or county councils. Two former Moms Demand Action volunteers are now in the U.S. Congress—Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) and Rep. Marie Newman (IL-03).
Over the past eight years we’ve invested in training our volunteers to be among the best advocates in the country. Now we're going to help volunteers prepare to take the next step and take the jobs of elected officials who stand in the way of gun safety.
Our volunteers have spent years advocating for better laws, and now, they'll be writing them.
Onward,
Shannon Watts
Founder
Moms Demand Action
