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Changing the Face of Power Campaign Training 2011

Highlighting the challenges faced by women in politics and offering solutions to encourage their participation. A comprehensive guide to running for office.

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Changing the Face of Power Campaign Training 2011

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  1. Changing the Face of Power Campaign Training 2011

  2. The 2010 edition of “It Still Takes A Candidate: Why Women Don’t Run”finds: • “Women, regardless of their age, partisan affiliation, income and profession, are significantly less likely than men to express interest in seeking public office.” It Still Takes A Candidate, Lawless & Fox, 2010

  3. What is Holding Women Back?

  4. Not Qualified? • Women are twice as likely as men to rate themselves “not at all qualified” to run for office. • Men are roughly two-thirds more likely than women to assess themselves as “very qualified” to run for office. It Still Takes A Candidate, 2010

  5. Institutional Bias? • Women are less likely than men to receive encouragement to run for office from party leaders, elected officials and political activists. • The vast majority of women who do run were asked to do so by someone else. • When a woman receives external support to run from both a formal political actor and a non-political source, the likelihood that she will consider running more than doubles. It Still Takes A Candidate, 2010

  6. Balancing Family? • Majority of men consider seeking office regardless of number or age of children at home. • Women’s interest in candidacy increases as family obligations decrease. It Still Takes A Candidate, 2010

  7. Whatever the reasons, here are the results

  8. National Landscape: • 88% of state governors are MEN • 88% of big-city mayors are MEN • 76% of state legislators are MEN

  9. Texas Landscape: • 21% women in legislature • Ranks 35th in nation • Only 17 of 181 State Representatives are Democratic Women (09%).

  10. Can Women Win?

  11. Success on the Ballot: • Women perform as well than men when they do run for office. • Studies show an overall absence of gender bias in terms of vote totals • Democratic women sometimes perform better on the ballot than men because of cross-over vote It Still Takes A Candidate, 2010

  12. Attitudes of the Candidates: • There is no difference in attitudes between the genders about attending fundraisers or dealing with party officials • Differences do exist in attitudes about dealing with the press, meeting constituents and campaign endurance: WOMEN are more POSITIVE. It Still Takes A Candidate, 2010

  13. Why Now? • Forced Sonograms • Slashed Women’s Health Funding • Closed Schools • Fired Teachers • Closed Nursing Homes • Scuttled Clean Air and Water Regulations • …The only thing they didn’t close or slash is corporate tax loopholes!

  14. What is the Solution?YOU • You are qualified • You are smart • Texas needs you

  15. You’ve Been Asked! So Get Ready to Run

  16. Questions only you can answer • Why do you want to run? • What can you offer voters? • Can you build a coalition of supporters? • Do you have the stamina, the discipline and the vision needed to win?

  17. Questions you’ll NEED to answer • Is your district winnable? • Can you raise the money essential for winning? • Does your spouse or partner support your candidacy?

  18. BUILD YOUR LISTS NOW • Good candidates keep contacts from every event, gathering, party, work related meeting, conference group, workshop, cocktail party, church etc. • Building your army of contacts one by one

  19. Critical Information to Know • Election laws? • Where is the voter file? • What is the election history? • What was spent last cycle? • What is the political environment? • Who is term limited, retiring, etc. How will the dominoes fall in the next 2-4 years

  20. Getting Your House in Order • Review your financial, personal and public life • School • Military • Employment/Business history • Examine your record as an employer • Have you paid all applicable employment related taxes? • Investment portfolio

  21. Getting Your House in Order • Review EVERYTHING • Criminal or civil charges • Membership in organizations • Authored publications • Physical and mental health • Credit

  22. Your Public & Civic Life Have you voted regularly in elections? Have there been newspaper or media reports about you or your family? If you are an elected official, know your record: • Has your vote on the same issue changed over time? • How is your attendance record? • Are your contribution records in order? • Have you made public statements that could raise questions?

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