Our Mission
To increase the number of Democratic women leaders from diverse backgrounds in public office through recruitment, training, and providing a powerful network.
Who We Are
Emerge Louisiana is changing the face of politics by recruiting, training and providing a powerful network for Democratic women who want to run for office in the Pelican State.
We offer the only in-depth, six-month, 70-hour, training program that provides aspiring female leaders with cutting-edge tools and training to run for elected office and elevate themselves in our political system.
Our program’s trainers are comprised of an elite team of campaign consultants, advisors and staff from all over the country, who have been involved in some of the most successful campaigns and initiatives seen in recent election cycles. Participants learn from these experts and develop practical knowledge in areas such as public speaking, fundraising, campaign strategy, voter contact, media and messaging and others. Emerge Louisiana’s training program emphasizes running for office in Louisiana as a woman and as a Democrat. Our trainers have experience working in campaigns and electing Democrats here in our home state. Candidates also meet an array of dynamic women who hold elected and appointed office and become a part of a supportive network, which includes a national association of Emerge alumnae, the Emerge board and advisory council members.
- More than 4,000 women trained to run for office since 2002;
- More than 475 alums currently serving in elected office across the United States;
- More than 560 women on the ballot in 2018;
- In the 2017 election, 152 Emerge alumnae won their elections;
- 52% of Emerge alumnae have run for office or been appointed to local boards or commissions;
- Strong record of diversity: 37% of our alumnae are women of color.
Emerge Louisiana is a state affiliate of Emerge, which has trained more than 4,000 women to run for office since 2002. Emerge alumnae across the country have won more the 1,000 elections to date and hold office at every level of government. There are currently Emerge affiliates in 27 states — Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin with plans to expand to more soon. Women who graduate from Emerge Louisiana’s training program are plugged into both the state network of Emerge Louisiana alumnae, as well as the national network of Emerge alumnae across the country.
Emerge Louisiana has no issue-based litmus test for candidates. Our mission is clear: to recruit, train and support Democratic women who want to run for office.
Emerge Louisiana is committed to a statewide strategy. We recruit and train women from across the state who want to run for any level of political office. We are building the bench of well-trained candidates who will run for office for years to come.
Why Women?
- Studies have shown women in elected office overwhelmingly support and push forward democratic principles like equality and fairness.
- When women hold public office they are more actively involved in a variety of gender-salient issue areas, including healthcare, the economy, education and the environment.
- Women legislators are more responsive to constituents, value cooperation over hierarchical power and find ways to engineer solutions in situations where men have trouble finding common ground.
Why Louisiana?
- While women make up 51% of Louisiana’s population and 54% of registered voters in the state, women currently make up only 18% of the Louisiana Legislature.
- There are only 20 women serving in the 105-member Louisiana House of Representatives.
- There are just 6 women serving in the 39-member Louisiana State Senate.
- Louisiana has not elected a woman statewide or sent a woman to the United States Congress in over a decade, since 2008.
- Louisiana continues to be ranked one of the worst places for women, children and families to live in the United States.
