Campaign Staff Training and Jobs

FAQ | Training and Campaign Jobs Application

About The Program

EMILY's List trains campaign workers to give our candidates access to the best campaign staffs to organize, fundraise, and communicate a candidate's message. Our training program teaches campaign professionals how to be campaign managers, researchers, field operatives, and fundraisers. In the 2006 election cycle, EMILY's List held 22 training sessions in 17 states, educating 773 candidates and staff.

Training Overview

"EMILY's List campaign management training seminar sharpened my skills and built my confidence. I learned how to run a winning campaign -- and I did, two elections in a row!"
Lisa Sherman, 1998 Campaign Management Training Graduate, manager Rep. Darlene Hooley's re-election 1998 and Rep. Susan Davis' challenger race in 2000.

Effective campaigning isn't just knowing what to do -- it's understanding when and how to use that knowledge to win. The EMILY's List training formula arms participants with political skills and teaches them how to gain an advantage in tough political situations.

After a day of instruction from seasoned political operatives, trainees apply what they've learned in a realistic campaign simulation at night. Each participant receives a vast briefing book containing data on a fictional congressional district: polling numbers, media outlets, community calendars -- all the information you'll need to create a winning campaign plan. You'll gain a deeper understanding of politics by working directly with the training team and your peers in realistic campaign situations.

Just like a campaign, each EMILY's List training seminar requires long hours, dedication, and hard work. You'll get an authentic taste of campaign life, working late into the night and competing with your peers to win.

Training Seminars

"Overall the presentations were phenomenal, and the information was excellent. Even the areas in which I had experience, I learned something new and how to be more organized. It was also a great learning experience to hear the experience of the other participants."
Past Seminar Attendee

EMILY's List trainees receive top-notch instruction in a supportive and challenging environment that caters to cooperative learning. After the training, we'll help you find work through our Job Bank.

Our Campaign Training seminars focus on the following areas:

Campaign Management
This comprehensive seminar for experienced campaign staff will teach you how to manage a campaign team, develop a message, write a campaign plan, create a budget, raise money, build media and field skills, and utilize research.

Fundraising
Learn the fundamentals of political fundraising, including how to write a plan, manage staff, recruit and oversee the finance committee, target donors, solicit contributions, plan events, and manage a call time program.

Press
Learn how to write a press plan, generate press coverage, prepare a candidate for interviews and debates, manage crises, and develop on-camera interview techniques.

Research
Learn how to compile, analyze, and use opposition and candidate research in a campaign using old-fashioned research techniques and modern technology.

Field
Learn the fundamentals of organizing: how to recruit volunteers, organize constituencies, plan phone banks and canvasses, and conduct GOTV activities. Advanced field operatives will refine these organizing skills, learn more about targeting, and write a field plan.

Finding a Job

>> Submit your résumé to the EMILY's List Job Bank now!

The EMILY's List Job Bank connects trainees and experienced political professionals with Democratic campaigns and progressive organizations across the country who are looking for staff. Our training department provides support and information to Job Bank participants to help them find meaningful work and make sensible career choices.

Our Record of Success

"EMILY's List knows how to convert raw energy and enthusiasm into practical campaign skills. I know -- the 10 EMILY's List trainees I hired for my U.S. Senate campaign helped me defeat a powerful GOP incumbent and become Michigan's first woman senator."
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)

Democrats count on EMILY's List to produce top-flight staff. Since 1993, nearly 1,000 women and men have gone through the EMILY's List training program, putting their skills to use on major statewide and targeted congressional races.

In the 2000 election cycle, 97 percent of our trainees found paying jobs with EMILY's List endorsed campaigns, state Democratic parties, progressive organizations, ballot initiatives, or Democratic campaigns.

The Training Team

EMILY's List training seminars are led by top political professionals. Past trainers include:

  • Paul Begala, host, MSNBC's Equal Time
  • Mary Beth Cahill, campaign manager, John Kerry for President
  • Steve Elmendorf, chief of staff, House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt
  • Harold Ickes, partner, Ickes & Enright
  • Michael Meehan, director of message development and polling, Democratic National Committee
  • Will Robinson, partner, MacWilliams Robinson; media director, Bradley for President
  • Marla Romash, Romash Communications; communications director, Vice President Gore
  • Karen Tramontano, chief of staff, former President Clinton