Running for Office?

Apply for an endorsement

We are a member-driven organization with 1 million members around the country, working closely with campaigns up and down the ballot in all 50 states to send progressive Democrats to office. Since we were founded by former DNC Chairman and Governor Howard Dean in 2004, we’ve helped elect 843 progressive champions. We are looking for elected officials with the courage of their convictions -- folks who will work tirelessly to build an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthiest few.

There’s no one metric to hit or policy checkbox; instead our endorsement is determined based on the answers to these questions:

  • Will the candidate move the progressive movement forward in their community?
  • What do local members want to see their elected leaders stand up for, and does the candidate have substantial support from our local members?
  • Do the candidate's positions and policies build the broader progressive movement, especially in the fight against income inequality, for racial and economic justice?
  • Is the campaign building a strong people-powered operation and is the candidate working to win?

An endorsement from us can mean a host of different things, depending on the race, the political moment, and what DFA members care about most. The best way to explain what a DFA endorsement means is to highlight some ways we have partnered with endorsed campaigns.

  • Strategic Support - we work closely with campaign teams to build a rigorous campaign of field organizing, fundraising, earned and paid media, political power-mapping, and operational strategy.
  • Trainings - we run cutting-edge trainings for endorsed campaigns with grassroots leaders in their region - using Action Summits, our online Night School for core campaign skills, and advanced skills sessions with candidates and staff.
  • Grassroots Fundraising - since 2004, Democracy for America has built one of the most responsive, powerful and innovative small-donor programs in the country - raising nearly $40 million in support of progressive candidates.
  • Field Organizing Power - at DFA we are experts at building the field strength it takes to win, including recruiting our members to volunteer with the campaign, sending skilled staffers to embed on races, and our massive DFA Dialer program for voter persuasion and GOTV.

If you have questions, or want to let us know about a candidate in your neighborhood, please call us at (802) 651-3200 or email us at endorsements@democracyforamerica.com

Apply for an endorsement

Apply for a DFA Endorsement

Thank you for applying for Democracy for America’s endorsement. These questions are the first step in our endorsement process, designed to connect our 1+ million grassroots members across the country with the most exciting, people-powered progressive candidates and campaigns. You’ll receive an email from us with next steps!

We recommend using a word processor to compose the answers to this questionnaire, in case you are disconnected from the internet, or if you are not yet ready to submit your application.

Public campaign profile:

(Please note: The responses for this section will become public once you've submitted them.)

(e.g. "Friends of Lorena Gonzalez")
e.g.: "Missouri State's Attorney"
e.g.: "OH-08"
e.g. "https://www.facebook.com/DFAaction"
Please share your personal biography and story. (250 word limit)
What inspired you to run for office? Why are you running for THIS particular office? (250 word limit)
DFA believes that when campaigns run with courage and conviction on core progressive values, we win. That means bold leadership in fighting income inequality, and building an economy that works for everyone, not just for the wealthiest few. It means committing to support the Movement for Black Lives, to challenge structural racism and stop violence against communities of color. It means people-powered politics - making sure that all people get a say in the decisions that impact their lives. How does your track record and your campaign embody these values? (250 word limit)
Please select a square headshot, at least 800 by 800 pixels.
Election details:
Contact info:
Demographics & Identity:

Democracy for America is committed to building a more reflective democracy -- that means a government that reflects the lived experiences, needs, and hopes of all Americans -- not just those of an old boys' club. It means building a political process that honors the true breadth and depth of the American electorate, that centers equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice, where people of all races and genders have access to leadership and decision-making in the halls of government. Right now, our elected bodies are overwhelmingly wealthy, white, and male - white men comprise 31% of the population but 65% of all officeholders up and down the ballot. Our democracy is stronger when all our best and brightest have the opportunity to lead.

For that reason, we are providing the option for endorsement applicants to tell us more about their own identities.

This information is optional and self-reported. We will use it to track and further Democracy for America’s commitment to building a more reflective democracy - to ensure that our candidate endorsements reflect the diversity of the American people, to uphold the values of inclusion, equity, diversity, and justice, to challenge structural racism within our electoral process, particularly the structural barriers to access and resources faced by candidates of color.

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