💬 Thursday Thread: Have you considered running for office?
We need women in office now more than ever
With the recent loss of Kamala Harris (who only had 100 days to put together a campaign) and the 2016 loss of Hillary Clinton, somehow this has lead to many believing a woman is not electable. But I know, the future is still female. Now, more than ever, we need women in office. And these so-called “failures” are actually steps forward, because every time you lose a battle, you’re learning how to win a war.
I’m an active board member of Emerge America, a nonprofit focused on recruiting, training, and getting Democratic women into office. They've helped over 1,200 women get elected to office, including Emerge co-founder, VP Kamala Harris. In honor of their 20th anniversary, if you donate $20 or more to Emerge, you’ll receive a FREE copy of my upcoming book Fired Up.
We need women up and down the ballot. We need YOU to run for office, whether it’s for your local school board, or for Congress. I know there are so many obstacles that women will site in not wanting to get into politics, namely things like being the primary caregiver for children, or adult parents, or not having the experience they assume they need.
👉 For today’s Thursday thread, here’s what I’d like to know:
Have you ever run for office? Tell us about your experience.
If you haven’t run for office, have you considered it? What obstacles are holding you back?
Welcome to the Thursday Threads, a weekly chance for us to connect with one another in the comments. Join me and other readers as we navigate important discussions. And a note: a difference of opinion is always okay, being unkind to one another is not. Let’s keep these conversations respectful.
My new book Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age, is available for preorder! Out in June 2025, Fired Up will give you the formula for finding your unique spark and show you how to use it to start fires in your life. By preordering, you can enroll for FREE in Firestarter University, a year-long online program that includes live monthly workshops, workbooks and resources, accountability check-ins, and a community to help you succeed.
I am in the midst of running for local school board! I have considered it for years, but there were always a lot of reasons not to do it. This year, encouragement from women I respect and admire pushed me over the fence - so here I am! So far, it has been an incredibly positive experience, challenging me in all the right ways. Win or lose, I will learn and grow from this. If you're on the fence, consider this your sign to DO IT!
Thank you for this post Shannon. I am currently in elected office in a town in Massachusetts. I am the first black woman elected to my town’s select board (similar to a town council) in its 200+ year history. I’m also an Emerge alum. I work full-time, run a company, am a wife and mother to a child in elementary school. As I enter the last year of my term, I have many thoughts about our current form of government and its viability for a woman of my demographic to serve yet the deep need for diverse representation.