Women of color make up 65% of the fourth cohort, which includes small business owners, teachers, mothers, community activists, lawyers and more. The leaders represent a wide range of political parties and ideologies.
Today, the LBJ Women's Campaign School announced the 65 leaders who will form its fourth incoming class. The LBJ Women's Campaign School is a nonpartisan, issue-neutral program that trains leaders, and those traditionally excluded from public life, who want to run for elected office or become campaign managers, regardless of political party. The program brings together top political experts from across the nation to lead an immersive training program on topics including media relations, public speaking, fundraising, grassroots organizing and more. The program kicks off in Austin May 11—13, with monthly virtual classes through November. Through the seven-month program, these change-makers will gain an insider network, professional mentorship and the skills they need to win.
The 65 participants were selected through a rigorous review process from nearly 120 applications, based on their leadership potential, commitment to public service, and professional experience. These leaders are passionate small business owners, mothers, government employees, community activists, lawyers, nurses and veterans ready to jump into the political arena.
People of color make up 65% of the fourth cohort, which includes women in their 20s through their 60s. The women represent a wide range of political ideologies, and have plans to run for state representative, judge, city council, school board and Congress, and to become campaign managers.
The program is unique for embracing a multipartisan approach. The 65 leaders represent many different political parties and ideologies including Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Forward Party Members and Democratic Socialists. The speakers, advisory board and donors all come from a wide range of political thought.
"Democracy works best when all voices are heard. I cannot wait to see all that these leaders accomplish!" —Amy Kroll, LBJ Women's Campaign School
The fourth cohort joins the 185 LBJ Women's Campaign School alumni who are already stepping up to serve their community in the political arena. Eighteen program alumni have already stepped up to run for office including running for judge, school board, city council, state representative, state Senate, secretary of state and governor in Texas, Arkansas, California and Maryland. Forty-nine percent of alumni have already stepped up to run for office, are senior level campaign staff or consultants, or are serving in government roles.
"Democracy works best when all voices are heard," said Amy Kroll, founder and executive director of the LBJ Women's Campaign School. "I cannot wait to see all that these leaders accomplish!"
Women are 51% of the population, but are only about a third of elected officials nationwide. In Texas, the political gender gap is even worse. Women make up only 29% of the Texas Legislature, 14% of the Texas congressional delegation, and 22% of statewide elected officials.
Thanks to grants from Texas Woman's University Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, Texas residents are attending for free, further knocking down socioeconomic barriers for women in politics. The LBJ Women's Campaign School is sponsored by the Texas Business and Professional Women's Foundation, the Texas Woman's Foundation and over 130 individual donors. The LBJ Women's Campaign School is the Texas state partner of the Women's Public Leadership Network.
The LBJ Women's Campaign School is part of the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.
The women change-makers in the fourth cohort:
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Learn more at the LBJ Women's Campaign School website.