About Us

Our Mission

To increase the number of Democratic women and non-binary leaders from diverse backgrounds in public office all across the state and in all offices through recruitment, training, and providing a powerful network.

Who We Are

Emerge Washington is changing the face of politics by recruiting, training, and providing a powerful network for Democratic women who want to run for office.

We offer the only in-depth, multi-month, 70-hour, cohort-focused training program that provides aspiring women and non-binary leaders with cutting-edge tools and training to run for elected office and elevate themselves in our political system.

Our program’s trainers are comprised of an elite team of campaign consultants, advisors, and elected officials from all over the state of Washington who have been involved in some of the most successful campaigns and initiatives seen in recent election cycles. Participants learn from these experts and develop practical knowledge in areas such as public speaking, fundraising, campaign strategy, voter contact, media and messaging, and more. Candidates also meet an array of dynamic women who hold elected and appointed office and become a part of a supportive network, which includes a national association of Emerge alumnae.

Emerge WA has trained over 250 women and 56 Emerge WA alumnae are currently in elected office.

• More than 6,000 alumns trained to run for office since Emerge’s founding in 2002.
• More than 1,200 alums currently serving in elected office across the United States.

Emerge

Emerge Washington is a state affiliate of Emerge, which has trained more than 6,000 women and non-binary leaders to run for office since 2002. Emerge alumnae across the country have won more than 1,200 elections to date and hold office at every level of government. There are currently Emerge affiliates in 26 states — Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado,  Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin, with plans to expand to more soon. Emerge has trained women in 44 states and territories. Women who graduate from Emerge Washington’s training program are plugged into both the state network of Emerge Washington alumnae, as well as the national network of Emerge alumnae across the country.

Why Women?

• Studies have shown women in elected office overwhelmingly support and push forward democratic principles like equality and fairness.
• When women hold public office they are more actively involved in a variety of gender-salient issue areas, including healthcare, the economy, education, and the environment.
• Women legislators are more responsive to constituents, value cooperation over hierarchical power, and find ways to engineer solutions in situations where men have trouble finding common ground.
• Women make up 51% of the population and make up fewer than 25% of all elected officials in the United States. If women and non-binary leaders are not at the table, then our public policies, budgets, and laws won’t reflect women’s priorities and experiences.
• Finally, women and non-binary leaders face specific challenges and barriers when running for public office that men don’t face. Our training addresses these head on.