Women's Forum Luncheon - Running Start

On Tuesday, October 28, the Women’s Forum hosted Running Start for its monthly luncheon meeting. As part of Running Start’s "Path to Politics" series, guest speakers at the event included Tracey Brooks, a Democratic Congressional candidate for New York’s 21st District and Kate Whitman, a Republican House candidate for New Jersey’s 7th District. While both women lost their respective campaigns, each says there are lessons to be learned from their experiences—lessons they hope will encourage young women nationwide to run for public office.

"We need more women in government," says Brooks, who was the only woman in a field of eight men vying for retiring Congressman Michael McNulty’s seat earlier this year. Brooks also says that for her "nothing has been more rewarding than running for public office." Had she won, Brooks would have been the first woman from the 21st District to ever serve in Congress. Prior to running, Brooks was a regional director for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Whitman, who is the daughter of former NJ Governor Christine Todd Whitman, placed second in a primary field of seven. She says while her con list of reasons not to run was longer than her pro list, hers was a "wonderful experience." Her advice to young women thinking about a political career includes not giving up after losing and getting involved in other ways with your party to show "you’re not going anywhere." Both women suggest volunteering for campaigns or becoming involved on a local level to gain insight into the political process before running for office.

That’s a sentiment Running Start echoes in its programs. Running Start is a DC-based, non-profit organization dedicated to teaching young women nationwide about political leadership. Running Start’s programs include those for high school- and college-age women. One such initiative, Campaign College, is based on a partnership with the American Association of University Women and American University’s Women and Politics Institute, and its goal is to train college women to run for student government.

For more information, visit Running Start online.