She's Running

Girl gangs, voter registration, get out the vote - when it comes to political action, there's something for everyone. Think you have to run for office to make a difference? Think again.

The people of West Virginia have gotten a bad rap, and Cindy Lavender-Bowe is here to make sure that all West Virginians have someone who represents them in the State House.

Even after 2 terms in the Michigan State House, Christine Greig is as passionate and energetic about her state as she was on day 1.

Nikki Foster wants to talk about her race for Ohio State Representative, servant leadership, and how moderate politics might keep our government moving in the right direction. Emily wants to talk about rugby. Luckily, there's time for both.

Vanessa Adia believes the U.S. needs more everyday people to represent everyday people. Which is why she's planning on taking a break from teaching to represent Texas in Congress.

See a problem; figure out how to fix it. That's essentially what Liz Walsh did when she decided to run for office. She saw a problem in her community and figured out that the way to fix it is to get on the county council. Easy, right?

Maria Begg-Roberson has lived all over the world and is ready to work hard on the Rutherford Borough Council for her adopted hometown in New Jersey.

Vickie Holt honed her compassion, ability to listen, and problem solving skills 30,000 feet in the air. Now she wants to tackle the South Carolina State House.

Dawn Addis knows first-hand that local actions have federal consequences. Which is why she's running for City Council. And how she found herself at the State of the Union address.

Christina Sappey has decided to take her experience working for the Pennsylvania legislature and work in the Pennsylvania legislature. She's smart, experienced, and driven - what more could you ask for?

Lauren Friedman is a US Naval Academy graduate, a veteran, an activist, and one tough cookie who's determined to work hard for the people and community in Ohio that she loves. Plus, Emily's decided on her New Year's resolution. #AugustIntention

You might think that the Agricultural Commissioner isn't that big of a deal. Well, Kim Olson is here to tell you how you're wrong, but in an informative way that won't make you feel bad about yourself at all. Then she'll inspire the crap out of you and make you believe you can do anything. Not too shabby for a country mouse from Texas.

Raquel Teran is going from community activist to elected official and she's taking all the knowledge she's gained working to make Arizona better with her to the State House. Every day's another lesson and Raquel isn't done learning yet. Recommended reading: Dear Madam President: An Open Letter to Women Who Will Run the World by Jennifer Palmieri

Kerri Evelyn Harris may not look like the politicians of the past, but she's the politician of the future and exactly who you want fighting for you. And how's this for a motto for the current political wave: we won't out raise them, but we will out work them.

Vangie Williams is a fiscally responsible, progressive Democrat and her team of Vangelinas and Vangelinos are taking Virginia's 1st district by storm. Watch out, y'all. Here comes Miss Vangie.

Leslie Cockburn is an award-winning investigative journalist who has covered drug cartels, the financial meltdown, and multiple wars. Now she's running for Congress. Who knows what she'll uncover once she gets to Washington.

While her platform sounds more like a New Deal Democratic from the 1930s, Beth Bowen is a progressive candidate through and through. She just knows exactly what the people of her Michigan district value because she. is. listening.

Kelda Roys may be known right now for her viral campaign video, but she will be known for being a fierce advocate for women's rights, her commitment to the people of Wisconsin, and the sheer will and determination that all badgers proudly claim as their own.

Lauren Underwood beat out 6 other candidates (all white men) to become the Democratic nominee for Illinois 14th district. Not yet impressed? You will be.

It takes Julie Oliver hours to drive from on part of her district to another, but that's how it goes when you're campaigning for Congress in Texas. (Guess what Julie and Emily end up talking about - it starts with T and ends with exas.) #TexasProbsYall

Fayrouz Saad is running marathons, running for Congress, and smashing the patriarchy. She has no time for haters, so keep walking. Plus, she says a thing that may actually change Emily's life.

Gwen Combs is running to represent Arkansas in Congress while being a teacher and she was a key organizer for the Arkansas Women's March. And Emily still somehow managed to make it all about her. Plus, Emily has election day fever. And please follow us on Twitter!

Julie Palakovich Carr already has a successful campaign under her belt, so she's using her experience, dedication, and science (!!) to run her campaign for Maryland House of Delegates.

How do you campaign for office and train for an Ironman at the same time? If you're Emily Siegrist you canvass your Wisconsin district on a bike. If you're anyone else, you just don't.

There are some women who inspire you. There are some women you are in awe of. There are some women who make you think "dear Lord, what have I even done with my life?" Yolian Ogbu of Grassroots Youth is one of those women. In the very best way.

Passion and progress. That's what Lindsay Sabadosa is about. And she's determined to get her part of the state fair representation in the state house. After all, there's more to Massachusetts than Boston.

Sasha Bentley is running on stronger small business, strong schools, and community engagement - who could be against that?

Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. Great advice for a DIY-er and political candidate. And Lindsay Brown just happens to be both (not to mention smart, determined, a certified Millennial, and with a policy platform that'll knock your socks off).

Tiffany's doing it all, working, campaigning, and parenting, all while not raising a dime for her campaign. Instead, she's promoting #MaineRaising - a campaign to put donation dollars back into the state she loves. It's a new kind of campaign and we are here for it.

People keep telling Emily Randall that she's too progressive, too liberal, too radical to be elected to Washington's State Senate in her hometown. But she says, this is the place where I was born, this is the community I was raised in, and these are the people I'll fight for.

Lisa Hunter is running for City Council in Washington D.C. In a city filled to the brim with politicians, how does she plan on making her voice stand out? By apologetically being herself.

Happy Women's History Month! To kick it off, Emily has a seriously good conversation with Representative Attica Scott, who is in the Kentucky State House representing House District 41. They talk campaigning, what happens after you win, and what it's like to come face to face with those "what ifs" that keep you up at night.

Who's ready to go deep on gender parity in Texas politics, ya'll? Brooke Lopez and Adrianna Maberry are young, crazy smart, passionate about gender parity in politics, and have just launched Lone Star Parity Project. These two are gonna go far.

Growing up with eight brothers taught Elizabeth Moro an important lesson - if you're not at the table, you're not going to get fed. And that's the attitude she'll take to Congress for Pennsylvania.

Yes, Jenn O'Mara's campaign for Pennsylvania State Rep has momentum. But more than that, she was preparing for this campaign before she even knew she wanted to run. And there's no such thing as being too prepared (hasn't someone said that before?).

She's a Naval Academy graduate, Navy Pilot, former federal prosecutor and mother of four. Why the hell would Mikie Sherrill now want to take on running for Congress?

Anne Martin is a problem solver who wants to do more. So what's her solution? Run for Chancery Court Judge, of course!

Due to technical difficulties, the first episode of She's Running is a minisode! Emily stuck her mic in the faces of women at a candidate training to find out why they want to run for office.

Anna V. Eskamani is determined, has a great laugh, and isn't afraid to fight for what she believes in, no matter what. If you're anything like Emily, you'll want Anna to be the bff you go to when you need all your problems fixed.

Bravery is putting yourself out there, even when the odds are against you. This week Emily chats with Tabitha Isner, a progressive woman running for Congress in deep red Alabama. Every day she hears "you'll never win", but she's not giving up. You know why? Because she's brave.

Nicole A. Williams is cool, experienced, and outrageously energetic. And she's running for Maryland Delegate in the 22nd District. Plus, Emily is jazzed about 2017's Word of the Year!

Happy American Thanksgiving! Emily chats with Brittany Shearer about her run for Norfolk School Board. And don't worry if you're nervous about uncomfortable conversations - Showing Up for Racial Justice has you covered.

Emily's back from vacay! Women won up and down the ballot last week! Taylor Harrell has started a PAC for Millennial Women! Everything is awesome again!

If you've been waiting for an episode with a great candidate, a teenage advisory council, and The Blob - the wait is over. Melissa Shusterman, candidate for Pennsylvania State Representative, is the one you've been waiting for.

Well, it's happened. Emily has found her soulmate. Well, politically, that is. Kelsey Waits dreamed of being President as a little girl, is an introvert who is a data nerd, and is running for School Board in Minnesota. Thank goodness for regional accents, or you'd never tell these two apart!

Emily chats with Kelly Danner about what it takes to run for District 11 Dane County Supervisor. Turns out it's dedication, determination, and a heck of a good team behind you!

Running for office takes time. Running a campaign for state office, like Superintendent of Public Instruction in Arizona, takes more. Now try doing that while also working full-time. Kathy Hoffman's plan: lots of coffee and pure determination.

Aryanna Berringer has heard it all before. You think she can't handle being Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania? You just watch.

Kristen Browde is a lawyer, a former reporter, and is now running for Town Supervisor in New Castle, NY. Emily chats with her about how she got to where she is, and what it's like running in Upstate New York (apparently it's not all apple-picking and farmers markets).

Heather Ward is running for T/E School Board in Pennsylvania. Heather Ward is endorsed by Run For Something. Heather Ward has a smart platform, knows what she wants, and isn't afraid to work hard for it. And Heather Ward is twenty-freaking-two.

One day, Emily will stop fawning all over the guests. Today is not that day. Jinyoung Lee Englund is running in a special election for Washington State Senate, is incredibly determined, and believes in the power of bipartisanship. Come on, what's not to love?