Amanda Litman
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Articles by Amanda Litman
Millennials are back, baby
Yesterday my pals at the Future Caucus (led by the wonderful Layla Zaidane) put out their report on the generational make-up of congressional candidates. (Easier said than done: First you have to figure out everyone who’s running, then you have to ID their ages.) The stats were fascinating. For the first time, Gen Z and millennials make up more than a third of the congressional candidate pool — and millennials are now the largest generational bloc running for U.S. Senate.
Rep. Max Miller made me delete a tweet
Let me tell you about the time I was told by a Republican member of Congress that legally speaking, I needed to shut the fuck up. On August 10, I posted on X that, in my opinion, Republicans should be asked about Rep. Max Miller, who I referred to as a man who had “broken his toddler’s collarbone.” Two days later, I got an email, and then a letter: After a bunch of back and forth with my lawyers and Rep. Miller’s counsel, I posted a clarification on X, per his demand.
The Next Generation’s Done Waiting | Run for Something’s Amanda Litman on It's the Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath
As the general election quickly approaches, Edwin Eisendrath sat down with Amanda Litman, co-founder for Run for Something, to talk about the next generation of Democratic leaders and how they’re changing the way politics get done. Run for Something has helped nearly 1,700 young people to local office, with candidates focussed on the problems voters actually live with: housing, childcare, healthcare, schools, roads, and the general cost of living. But this is bigger than one election.
Some candidates just have to eat the shit sandwich (with Amanda Litman)
When the Love Island USA cast was announced on May 28, I watched fans, in real time, spring into action to expose any secrets the newest islanders might be hiding. What followed was a steady drip of information, receipts, backlash, and ultimately multiple cast member removals from the show. In one case, an islander was sent home before the show even aired, because a high-school-era video surfaced of her rapping the n-word along to a song. Yanked, expeditiously.
Trump’s Market Manipulation & the Iran War | The Weekly Assignment with Run for Something’s Amanda Litman
For the last seven weeks, Trump’s message on Iran has shifted a multitude of times. Sometimes Trump says we've won the war and the Strait of Hormuz is open. Sometimes he demands help from our NATO allies and announces we’re sending a blockade to the critical waterway. But one thing has been constant: some people are making a killing off of these wild swings in the financial markets and bets with insider information in betting markets. On The Weekly Assignment, Susan J.
"Build a bigger tent" "Wait, no, not like that"
There’s been an ongoing debate since the 2024 election about how and whether the Democratic Party needs to build a bigger tent in order to win moving forward. This debate is a distraction from the real problem at hand: Candidates who have neither the clarity nor backbone to navigate competing pressures. Without that, the tent has no pole.
How Mamdani got the word out about child care
If you’re a New York City parent of a 2022 or 2023 baby, you probably can’t look up (or down at your phone) without seeing Mayor Mamdani’s face over the last six weeks. He was everywhere.
RFS feel-good update (3/2): It's Election Day tomorrow!!
We've got 23 candidates on the ballot Hi all - With everything going on, it feels wild that our politics continues unabated. But here we are. Somehow, tomorrow is Election Day. We have 22 candidates up in Texas and 1 up in Arkansas. Our slate of 2026 endorsements in Texas builds on the years of bench-building RFS has done in the state. We’ve invested deeply in Texas over the years, laying the groundwork for this moment and supporting rising stars in the Democratic Party.
Coffee with The Contrarians ft. Amanda Litman
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Mallory McMorrow & Why You Should 'Run for Something'
Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -45:26 Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow is running for U.S. Senate, joining the competitive race against other big, established Democrat names.
Young Candidates Can Speak to the Affordability Crisis Because They’re Living It
This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news analysis. For a lot of young Americans, every major life decision that signifies adulthood starts with the same question: Can I afford it? Can I afford to move for that “dream job”? Can I afford to get married, have a kid, or take care of one? Can I afford to buy a home, or even just stay in the one I rent? For previous generations, those questions had simpler answers.
YOU should run for office! Amanda Litman On Why, and How, to Support New Candidates
As November 4th’s multiple blue wins at the ballot box showed, the people are sick and tired of the old-guard Democratic establishment.
Should Bernie Sanders and Chuck Schumer Step Aside? The Future of the Democratic Party
Democrats were riding a wave of election victories until they surrendered to end the government shutdown on a pinky promise. Still facing the existential threat of Trumpism, their path forward looks uncertain. What could keep the party afloat? Amanda Litman has ideas. The co-founder of Run for Something, an organization that recruits Millennials and Gen …
La izquierda debe construir su infraestructura
EEUU Politica 12 de noviembre de 2025 VIVE CABA 12 de noviembre de 2025 Cuota Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Más Noticias EEUU PoliticaVIVE CABA - 12 de noviembre de 2025 Querida Nueva York: una carta de amor desde Jackson, Mississippi EEUU PoliticaVIVE CABA - 12 de noviembre de 2025 ¿Puede Mamdani cumplir?
The Left Must Build Its Infrastructure
Comment / November 11, 2025 The Left Must Build Its Infrastructure We need to look not at what it will take to win the next election, but what it’ll take to win the next 10 elections.
Want to save democracy? Amanda Litman has marching orders for you
Amanda Litman fills me with hope. I hope they are working on an intravenous version of her, but for now there is now this video. Amanda has figured out a very specific way to try to put America on a different path from this descent into authoritarianism: helping people run for office, through her terrific organization Run for Something.
Political Trends of 2025
I joined my friend and ex-538’er Perry Bacon Jr and Amanda Litman, the founder of Run For Something, for a conversation on politics in 2025 and what the Democrats need to do to rebuild the party post-Trump. Share
Deep Casual Hosting Live w/Amanda Litman
This year, The Double Shift will focus on IRL community building with a new initiative for 2025 called The How to Find Your People Club. Club members will get years-early access to some of the groundbreaking ideas and tools I’m developing for my book, which will be published by Penguin Random House in 2027. One of the benefits of club membership is audio newsletters, where I read my newsletter so you can listen on the go.
How our weekly dinners are going
First: Some unapologetic book stuff: When We’re in Charge was one of the top 100 best-selling books on Bookshop.org so far this year! Get it now and support indie bookstores. Another option: Pick up your copy of the book PLUS a very cool tote bag (with the title of chapter 8 on it!!) from the Crooked Media store. If you’re thinking about reading this book with your book club, I’ve put together a handy-dandy discussion guide.
Four Concrete Ways Business Leaders Can Ease the Burden on Working Parents
Over the last few weeks, the Trump administration has placed special emphasis on increasing the birth rate and incentivizing people to have kids, all the while slashing funding for anything that could remotely ease parental burdens. As an executive, a mom of two kids under 3, and someone who’s spent my career helping elect pro-family leaders, I believe we need significant structural changes to better support anyone who wants to be a parent.
Democrats Are Dying in Office – And Taking the Party With Them
Longtime Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly passed away last week at the age of 75. I grew up in Connolly’s district and interned in his office during college, and I know personally that he was a kind, good, passionate man dedicated to making our country better. That’s why the last few months of his life were such a travesty. He should never have run for reelection in November and never sought the House Oversight Committee leadership post. He should have retired in peace.
How Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Wins Social Media Without Trolls Taking Her Down
This excerpt from When We’re in Charge has been lightly edited. I’m going to state the obvious here: Social media can be a necessary and positive tool for advancement—it can win elections, change lives, and transform societies. It can also, on a personal level, totally mess with your head unless you set clear and explicit boundaries. Your followers, whether it‘s online or in real life, don’t really know you, even when they think they know you.
Know when to fold ’em
How old is too old to lead? The publication this week of Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s Original Sin, arguing that Democratic Party insiders concealed Joe Biden’s age-related decline, and the death yesterday of Congressman Gerry Connolly of Virginia, underscored the big problem Democrats have with their aging leadership.
Introducing: Book Boosts!
Friends — It’s Friday, and I want to try something new. Some context. I’m a big reader — I read 50-60 books a year on average — and I’m thankful for a lifetime of burying my nose in everything from historical fiction to far-out sci-fi, presidential biographies and philosophical mind-melters, books about wars and whales and trees and monks and comforting mantras.
WATCH: The leaders we need
We just got off a wide-ranging call with messaging guru Anat Shenker-Osorio (rejoining us after a long break to fix things in European politics and Run for Something president Amanda Litman, who has a new book out called When We’re In Charge: The Next Generation’s Guide to Leadership, which applies what she’s learned in bringing up a younger wave of Dem… Listen to this episode with a 7-day free trial Subscribe to The.Ink to listen to this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post...
Democrat Leaders Must Pass the Torch-Or Risk Their Base Burning Out Original
Thanks to an onslaught of gossipy new tell-all books, President Joe Biden’s age and the effect it had on his ultimately failed re-election campaign are back in the news. This is in turn reigniting the sometimes uncomfortable but important conversation about gerontocracy in politics, and way in which leaders staying long past their ability to capably serve has hurt our country.
Gen Z and Millennials Think Work Culture Sucks, But Amanda Litman Thinks They Can Change It Original
Most leadership books treat Gen Z and Millennials like nuisances to manage around, focusing on how leaders from older generations can fit young people into their existing corporate cultures. As a millennial, a founder and executive, (and a mom of two who’s trying desperately to have a life outside of work), I never saw myself reflected in those books.
Democrats ‘Play Dead’ Strategy Will Be the Death of the Party
Over the weekend, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer led a group of 10 Democrats in voting for President Donald Trump’s government funding bill, despite promising up until the day before that he would use every ounce of leverage he had to stop the legislation, and despite near-unanimous House Democratic opposition to it.
AOC Rips Into Schumer for ‘Dangerous’ Plan to Bow to Trump
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez blasted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s plan to let Republicans advance their government spending bill, saying it’s “as dangerous as it is reckless.” The current continuing resolution “turns the federal government into a slush fund for Donald Trump and Elon Musk, it sacrifices congressional authority, and it is deeply partisan,” the Democratic congresswoman told CNN’s Jake Tapper.
Keep coming back
I recently spent two weeks in southern California, where I grew up, and found myself at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf most mornings during the first half of our trip. CBTL, as my sister and I call it, is a southern California-based chain that we loved as kids for their Ice Blendeds and have continued loving as adults out of some kind of nostalgia. But this time, it felt different. Whatever conglomerate now owns Coffee Bean seems to have stripped it of all the funky, faded charm it once had.
Do something by buying NOTHING on 2/28, popovers & potato leak soup, & 3 helpful/hopeful updates
Hi folks, I hope everyone’s week is going well in spite of what’s happening at the federal level. It was so nice to see the news about Monday’s protests and the next civic action is even easier. You don’t have to go anywhere or do anything to participate in next Friday, February 28’s Economic Blackout Day.
Opinion: Aging Democrats Are Still Telling the Same Old Story. It’s Time to Turn the Page
I want to propose something that might make you mad, but bear with me: Every Democrat in Congress over the age of 70 should seriously consider making this their last term. I’d love to ask every Republican to do the same, but I’m not expecting anything noble from them. You can call me an ageist. But while everyone is entitled to age with dignity, no one is entitled to age as one of the most powerful people in the country. To do so, in fact, is undignified.
Aging Democrats Are Still Telling the Same Old Story. It’s Time to Turn the Page
Opinion Aging Democrats Are Still Telling the Same Old Story. It’s Time to Turn the Page The political arena has changed drastically since many of our leaders' glory days. Published Feb. 13 2025 8:34AM EST Opinion Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.
Recs #78: Less overthinking, sweet gifts, and what’s on my radar
This is the Friday post at Downtime, a feel-good weekly roundup of recommendations and delightful distractions. If the email cuts off, you can view it on the web. Hello! Thanks for your patience and sorry for the no-show last Friday — as some of you saw, I was quite sick. I’m back, feeling human again, and praying I’ve done my time on the non-stop carousel of daycare viruses (at least for this season—please, dear god). Anyway. How was your week? LOL. What an insane question, right?
The Stakes Are Different For a Woman Running in 2024. Here's Why Original
Stop me if this sounds familiar: A woman is running for president against Donald Trump in a high-stakes election, with fundamental rights and democracy itself on the line. But despite these similarities, perhaps the most striking thing about the 2024 election is how much it doesn't feel like 2016.
Democracy or Else: How to Save America in 10 Easy Steps
(Author) (Author) (Author) (With) & 2 more FORMAT Buy new or used from an indie through our partner Biblio: Price Condition Seller Bookshop.org has the highest-rated customer service of any bookstore in the world Description From your friends at Pod Save America and Crooked Media comes a useful and illustrated guide to saving American democracy just in time for the 2024 election and 2025 insurrectionIf you're looking to navigate the chaotic, dunce-infested waters of American politics,...
The Up and Up goes to Arizona 🏜🌵: Part 2
Last week, I wrote about how a group of students from community colleges in Maricopa County are feeling about the 2024 election. As noted, when it comes to the significance of youth voter turnout, Arizona ranks #3 on the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts’ (CIRCLE)’s list of the top 10 states where young voters are predicted to have the biggest impact on the results of the 2024 presidential election — and Maricopa County is a key area.
RFS feel-good update (12/27): An honest note, for better or worse
Hi all - I hope your holiday season has been relaxing and joyful so far! Welcome to that liminal space between Christmas and New Years when time feels meaningless. I meant to keep this brief, but as it turns out, I have a lot to say, so please forgive the length of this email. First, thank you.
No Wuckers on Apple Podcasts
Monday, September 4th, 2023 Today, in the Hot Notes: Clarence Thomas finally updates his financial disclosure forms; a Trump campaign aide told Capitol Police officers to go hang themselves during the January 6th attack on the Capitol; after crying in front of Judge Kelly at sentencing, a Proud Boy yelled “Trump Won” as he left the courthouse; Governor Brian Kemp has assembled a commission to determine whether a fake Trump elector should be suspended from the State Senate; a judge has...
RFS feel-good update (5/30): "No one's ever come to my door before."
Hi all - Hope your long weekend was relaxing and joyful!! Good news on our end: We endorsed another 45 amazing young leaders across 12 states last week — 76% for municipal office, 18% for education roles, 4% for legal positions, and 2% for state legislature. This new class is amazing - teachers, animal rescue leaders, policy wonks, possibly historic candidates, veterans, engineers, lawyers, parents, affordable housing advocates, and more. Scroll through the latest class and get inspired.
RFS feel-good update (11/14): Our best Election Day yet
Hi all - What a great weekend to be a Democrat. (How often do we get to say that???) We held the Senate. A whole bunch of election-denying secretary of state candidates lost. The House is still up in the air, which in and of itself is an accomplishment.
RFS feel-good update (8/8): Winners in OH, MI, KS, AZ, MO, WA & TN!
Hi all - August usually feels slow but this year, we’ve got primaries nearly every week so lots and lots of results to share out! Here’s what we’ve notched since last Monday: In Ohio: Claire Osbourne, Dr. Michele Grim, Dani Isaacsohn, and Lauren McNally all won their primaries for state house In Michigan: Brendan Johnson won his primary for Oakland County Board, Natalie Price, Jason Hoskins, Noah Arbit, Jimmie Wilson, Joey Andrews IV, and Carrie Rheingans won their primaries for state house,...
RFS feel-good update (6/27): A long-term plan to win back our rights
Hi all - I confess: Like most Americans, I’m still furious. After decades of focused strategy and investment in state and local elections, anti-abortion activists achieved their goal: Roe v. Wade was overturned. With pre-Roe bans and trigger laws already on the books in 26 states, this decision will jeopardize the health and freedom of tens of millions of people across the country, especially harming poor women and women of color.
RFS feel-good update (5/9): Still so furious
Hi all - I am still (forever?) so furious it’s hard to think about, talk about, or write about nearly anything else: As we saw in the Supreme Court leaked decision last week, Roe v. Wade is going to be overturned and tens of millions of people are going to suffer or even die because of it. There is no silver lining here. This is all fucked. But I’m at least a little glad to note that we’ve seen a 200% increase in candidate sign-ups — young people are fired up, furious, and ready to run for office.
RFS feel-good update (3/7): 20k+ school board races this year
Hi all - First, a quick report back on our elections last week! 11 of our folks on the ballot run their primaries outright, 5 more moved on to run-offs. We’ve got more folks on the ballot this week — stay tuned. Now, let’s talk about one of my all-time favorite topics: school boards! Our partners at Ballot Ready put together an incredible overview of where the 20k+ school board races are happening this year.
Young People Should Start Running for Local and Statewide Office
We’ve since built a pipeline of more than 93,000 young people who are thinking about running for office: We’ve endorsed more than 1,800; and elected 637 people ages 18-40 to local offices across 48 states. More than half of these leaders are women, more than half are people of color, and about a quarter identify as LGBTQIA+. We’ve seen what kind of change happens when young people enter a room.
You Should Run for Local Office. Here’s Why
Between the failure of the federal voting rights legislation, the for-now death of filibuster reform, and a U.S. Supreme Court majority that is vehemently against protecting access to the polls, it is tempting to dip into a state of hopelessness about the future of democracy. But hopelessness doesn’t solve the problem.
Far-Right Extremists Are Mobilizing to Take Over Local Offices. Here’s How to Stop Them
Design Leah Romero + Getty Last week marked the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection on the Capitol—an eerie day for so many who watched, on TV or online, as violent extremists stormed the halls of Congress, set up gallows outside the building, broke glass, waved treasonous symbols, and threatened the lives of our leaders. Nine people died during and after that day, including multiple members of the Capitol police force, some by suicide. It felt dystopian—like a scene from a movie.
My last update of 2021
Hi all - Hope your holiday break was good, safe, relaxing, refreshing — whatever it is that you wanted out of it, I hope you got it. In this final email of 2021, I wanted to reflect on what Run for Something did in this wild year… First: There are now more than 90,000 people in the pipeline — that 90,000+ young people who’ve raised their hands to run for office since we launched in 2017. Even more exciting: 2021 is officially our best recruitment year yet.
RFS feel-good update (11/1): Happy Election Day Eve!!
Hi all - Tomorrow, November 2nd, there are 271 Run for Something-endorsed candidates on the ballot, including folks in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. More than half are women and 6 are non-binary. Half identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color.
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