Run for Something

Run For Something
FoundedJanuary 20, 2017; 8 years ago (2017-01-20)
FoundersAmanda Litman, Ross Morales Rocketto
Type501(c)(4)
Websiterunforsomething.net

Run for Something (RfS) is a progressive American political organization dedicated to recruiting and supporting young candidates running for down-ballot office. Its mission is to get young progressive candidates from non-traditional backgrounds to run for and win state and local offices, and create a next generation slate of political candidates that will seek higher office in the future.[1]

It was founded on January 20, 2017 — the day of the inauguration of Donald Trump as president — by Amanda Litman, the email director of Hillary Clinton's 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, and Ross Morales Rocketto, a veteran of political campaigns.[2][3]

In May 2017, political action organization Onward Together, founded by Clinton, selected Run for Something as one of its three primary partner organizations.[4] In the 2017 Virginia elections, Run for Something-endorsed candidates won more than 40 percent of their races, almost four times the average for first-time candidates.[5]

National Run for Office Day, to occur annually one week after Election Day, was created by Run for Something in 2017 to encourage more young progressives to run for office.[6]

In spring 2025, after the second election and inauguration of Donald Trump, progressive Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders partnered with RfS on his Fighting Oligarchy tour to recruit and train new progressive political talent.[7][8][9]

References

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  1. ^ Jennifer Bendery (January 30, 2017). "More Than 1,000 Progressives Signed Up To Run For Office Over The Weekend". Huffington Post. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  2. ^ Barabak, Mark (June 28, 2017). "Trump succeeds where Obama failed – spawning a new wave of liberal activism". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  3. ^ Hillary Clinton [@HillaryClinton] (November 8, 2017). "Congratulations to @RunforSomething founders @amandalitman + @RossMoRock for a huge night! 25 of the local candidates they helped to recruit and run won" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ Palmer, Anna (May 15, 2017). "Clinton launches new political group: 'Onward Together'". POLITICO.
  5. ^ Kirby, Jen (November 9, 2017). "Meet the group that just put more than 30 local progressives into office". Vox. Vox Media. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  6. ^ Hamedy, Saba. "Today is Run For Office Day. Here's what that means". CNN. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  7. ^ "Bernie Sanders partners with Run for Something to train candidates". POLITICO. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  8. ^ Gambino, Lauren (May 8, 2025). "Bernie Sanders partners with Run for Something to aid new progressive candidates". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  9. ^ "Run for Something Partners with Bernie Sanders to Recruit Young Progressives to Run for Office". Run For Something. Retrieved July 3, 2025.