Issues

An important part of being a strong candidate is developing your stance on various issues. Thankfully, no one expects you to already be well-educated on absolutely every issue. There are countless organizations that offer great educational resources aimed at political candidates. Here are some of our favorites in a couple of key topics. If you have a resource recommendation or an area you’d like to see covered, email us at sheshouldrun@wcfonline.org!

 

Labor:

AFL-CIO- There are countless labor unions across the county, and it is an excellent idea for any candidate to be familiar with whichever unions are most active in your area. However, the AFL-CIO is a good place to start learning about the labor movement wherever you are. The AFL-CIO is a federation of 57 national and international unions, and it represents 11.5 million members. Their State and Local Unions feature helps you find unions in your area. In their Issues section you can educate yourself on the issues important to the AFL-CIO with national and state-by-state fact sheets.

 

Environment:

Rachel’s Network- Rachel’s Network’s mission is to promote women as impassioned leaders and agents of change dedicated to the stewardship of the earth. Their website features a host of “EcoResources” on a large variety of environmental issues. Rachel’s Network was named in honor of famed author and environmentalist Rachel Carson, and the organization provides educational resources and networking services to its members. Additionally, there is an associated PAC, Rachel’s Action Network which promotes women leaders who advocate for a healthy environment. 

 

Education:

NEA (National Education Association)- The vision of the NEA is “a great public school for every student.” Their website, especially the “Legislative Action Center”, is a great place to learn about current developments in education and the many facets of education policy. Especially if you don’t have a background in education, this is a great resource to start learning. The NEA also endorses candidates at the local, state, and federal levels, and recommended candidates have access to their staff of experts as they strengthen their stance on education. Get in touch with your local or state level NEA if you are a non-federal candidate looking to learn more. 

 

Reproductive Health:

The Guttmacher Institute- The Guttmacher Institute is a leading source of social science research, policy analysis, and public education related to sexual and reproductive health. Their mission is to “generate new ideas, encourage enlightened public debate, promote sound policy and program development and, ultimately, inform individual decision making,” which makes them a good resource for women looking to inform themselves about reproductive health policy, whether or not they are preparing for a political campaign.

NARAL Pro-Choice America- NARAL Pro-Choice America is another prominent reproductive health resource. They feature action alerts, recent news, a media center, and run downs of several important issues. NARAL has state affiliate chapters and a section of state-by-state laws that would be especially useful to local/state candidates. The national NARAL PAC endorses federal candidates, while NARAL state affiliates have their own endorsement procedures.

Republican Majority For Choice - Republican Majority for Choice is the nation’s largest pro-choice Republican organization. Their website features recent news, upcoming judicial and legislative items of interest, and information about their PAC. Their language and philosophy can be a helpful example for Republicans who support reproductive choice, but may be unsure of how to best present their views. Republican Majority for Choice has affiliate chapters in New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. These chapters aim to "develop a strong network of pro-choice Republicans that can work with RMC-national on electoral, legislative, and judicial efforts."