What is your background? Why did you get involved in politics?
My background is in issue-based and electoral organizing. I see political change as the fastest way to help the most people. I worked on the Clinton campaign in North Carolina last year, managing a team of organizers across eight rural counties. Before that, I helped run NextGen Climate’s campus program in New Hampshire, where I’m proud to say the youth vote helped swing the 1,017 vote difference for Senator Maggie Hassan. I got my start organizing for fossil fuel divestment at Middlebury College, where I first saw how people standing together could successfully fight injustice. Then I learned how we could go beyond holding leaders accountable and replace them with progressive champions, and I was hooked.

What are some ways you evaluate a candidatesai??i?? chances of success?
I look for a track record of community leadership and a commitment to work hard, fight for progressive policies, fundraise aggressively, and run a field operation that will talk to enough voters to win.

Youai??i??ve been attending a lot of Democratic committee meetings around the state. What are you seeing and hearing?
People are fired up across Virginia. Every meeting is overflowing with people. Democratic committees across the state are scrambling to find larger meeting spaces. There are more contested primaries in Virginia than ever before. So many people were inspired to run to fight against Trump’s hateful agenda. We can channel this energy into a landslide win in November.

What are some Virginia races-to-watch for progressives?
The Governor’s race will be hard fought. Tom Perriello has come out swinging on progressive issues, including his bold stance against the Atlantic Coastal Pipeline. I’m watching over a dozen House of Delegates seats that could flip from red to blue. The Democratic candidates across the board are stellar. …

Constituents are looking for candidates to bring progressive power to every political level — local, state and federal. This role requires boldness and commitment to fight for the issues that directly impact — and improve — the lives of voters.

You will directly report to them!

Responsibilities for all candidates include:

Being Visible – Get out there! Talk to voters, plan appearances, attend forums and house parties. Donai??i??t just stand around waiting to be invited to events and activities. Read community calendars and make your own calendar of events. Invite yourself to high schools to talk about the process of running for office and to senior centers for a listening hour. Ask a local business if you can tour and learn more about what they need from government. In a big campaign, youai??i??ll hire a scheduler to do this for you. If you donai??i??t have a big team, see if a friend or volunteer will help.

Asking for Money – Even if you have a shoestring budget, you still need money to compete. You are the best person to ask supporters for money. Ask everyone you meet. Most people will be excited to support your campaign. Candor is key. Tell them specifically why you need their support — ai???Iai??i??m raising $250 to pay for a mailing letting voters know about my strong record on education.ai???

Trusting Your Team – When you hire a team with expertise, make sure you listen to them. Seek out diverse viewpoints. Listen humbly and show you value their counsel. No matter how much experience you have, you can always learn something new.

Owning the Message – You set the message for your campaign. Our Running for Office guide includes tips on how to develop your message. You should make sure your message is reflected in your stump speech, and all your …

Thousands of people shared the PCCC’sAi??10 Bad Things In Trump’s Budget graphic, which makes clear that Trump would rather gut programs that help working families than ask rich people or giant corporations to pay a dime more in taxes.

Now, the PCCC is collecting stories of people who would be impacted by Trump’s budget to share with reporters and members of Congress who want to elevate these voices. This is a very powerful way to impact the national debate!

If you or someone you know would be hurt by cuts to Meals on Wheels, let us know.
If you or someone you know would be hurt by cuts to heating assistance for seniors, let us know.
If you or someone you know would be hurt by cuts to student aid, let us know.
If you or someone you know would be hurt by cuts to public broadcasting, let us know.

The PCCC is also collecting stories of people hurt by the Republican health care plan — and folks who would benefit if there was a progressive vision of Medicare for All. If that would be you or someone you know, let us know.

Also, if youAi??or someone you knowAi??would be hurt by Supreme Court nominee Neil GorsuchAi??making decisions like Hobby Lobby that put corporations and employers ahead of workers and women’s health care autonomy, let us know.

It’s possible to persuade voters to abandon Trump and the Republicans if progressives amplify the emotional stories of people impacted by Trump’s disastrous agenda. Impact the national debate by sharing how you’d be hurt by Trump’s policies here.

(The PCCC has big plans to make emotional TV ads …