“A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.

– Thomas Paine

We must run everywhere, and challenge extremism everywhere, and re-insert needed accountability everywhere.

To protect democracy in a sustained way, we must build an infrastructure that first values running everywhere. But this won’t happen at the necessary scale until everyday Americans lead the way. Ultimately, the essential building blocks of an infrastructure that values running everywhere are individuals. It starts with everyday Americans, everywhere, taking steps to bring democracy and accountability back to where they live. Not just by demanding it of the powers that be, but doing it directly.

The good news is that there are practical ways that every American can play this role. And there are some wonderful role models who are already doing so.

BLUE OHIO

Blue Ohio is a joint project between former Ohio Democratic party chair David Pepper and It Starts Today.

The mission of BlueOhio is simple: create a grassroots community of Ohioans who value running everywhere. By October of 2022 (only five months after launching) the BlueOhio community already had grown to more than 1,100 members.

They make it easy to join thousands of other people and crowdsource democracy – supporting our nominees for a few dollars a month.

RUN FOR SOMETHING

Run for Something’s primary mission is to recruit, support and empower young, diverse candidates running for local and state-level offices across the United States. They work to build a pipeline of talented, passionate, dedicated people from all walks of life committed to creating positive change in their communities.

Central to the mission is increasing political engagement and representation and ensuring diverse voices and perspectives are included in the decision-making process at all levels of government.

TECH FOR CAMPAIGNS

Tech for Campaigns is an organization that connects highly-skilled technology professionals with political candidates running for state legislative offices in all fifty states.

For people who want to contribute their skills to a campaign but may not be able to physically travel to a candidate’s district (or prefer not to make phone calls) Tech for Campaigns offers a solution: connecting volunteers with campaigns in need! They help bridge the gap between technology and politics, ensuring that more candidates have access to the resources they need to be competitive in today’s digital landscape.

THE STATES PROJECT

State legislatures are the strongest force for change in this country. Good jobs. Lowering costs for working families. Rights to reproductive healthcare. Quality public education. Clean air and water. State lawmakers drive every issue that impacts your daily life — yet state legislative races are severely overlooked and underfunded. The States Project connects the importance of state legislatures to every aspect of our lives and brings together communities to help build a healthy, sustainable, and prosperous future for all. 

Lifting Statehouse Candidates

An Infrastructure That Values Running Everywhere