(Mayor Na'Cole Thompson at her swearing in ceremony.)
Mayor Na’Cole Thompson is a graduate of Cohort 3 of the LBJ Women's Campaign School. After serving her community as a City Council member and Mayor Pro-Tem, Mayor Thompson successfully ran for mayor in a special election this past February.
What inspired you to apply to the LBJ Women's Campaign School, and what were you hoping to gain from the experience?
When I applied to the LBJ Women’s Campaign School, I was already serving as an
elected member of the Leander City Council. Rather than learning how to become a
candidate, I wanted to strengthen the areas of campaigning that I had less direct
experience with, particularly fundraising and campaign management. I had already built
a strong political and community network through my years of service, so my focus was
on developing the operational side of running successful campaigns and expanding my
understanding of the political process from experienced campaign professionals across
Texas.
How did your experience at LBJWCS influence your decision to run for office?
The program strengthened my understanding of campaign management, fundraising
and the strategic planning required to run successful campaigns.
What is one moment, speaker, or lesson from Campaign School that has stayed with you and continues to influence your work today?
One of the most valuable experiences was participating in our cohort’s mock campaign,
where my team selected me as the candidate for a simulated campaign for Mayor of
Houston. We built and executed a comprehensive campaign strategy from start to
finish. At the time, I viewed it as a classroom exercise. Looking back, that experience
became an unexpected rehearsal for my own mayoral campaign, giving me practical
experience that I was able to apply in a real election.
What would you say to someone who is considering applying to the LBJ Women's Campaign School but isn't sure if they're ready?
If you're hesitating because you don’t feel ready yet, that uncertainty is actually the best
sign that you should apply. The LBJ Women's Campaign School isn't designed for
people who already have all the answers. It exists to help to build your confidence,
refine your skills, and give you the practical tools you need to serve your community.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. Whether you want to run for local office,
manage a campaign, or simply understand how to drive civic change, the program is
designed to meet you where you are and map out the next steps. This program
connects you with a cohort of peers, mentors, and political experts across Texas and
beyond who understands the unique challenges women face in public leadership. If you
care deeply about your community and want to make a tangible difference, you already
have the most important qualification. The LBJ Women's Campaign School will handle
teaching you the rest. Take the first step, you belong in the room.
Apply to the LBJ Women's Campaign School: https://apply.lbj.utexas.edu/apply/