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Receiving our endorsement means you’ll join the hundreds of other mamas we’ve helped run for local, state and federal office across the country. We know what it takes because we’ve been there. Vote Mama candidates may receive mentorship, fundraising and/or networking opportunities during their campaign. We connect candidates with the resources they need to successfully run for office.

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Eligibility

Who is the “Mama” in Vote Mama?

Mamas are self-identified. Mamas can be cis women, trans women, nonbinary and gender nonconforming people. Mamas are primary caregivers for biological children, foster children, step children, and formally or informally adopted children under the age of 18, or children of any age with a disability. Mamas are committed to progressive values and passing legislation that works for ALL families.

Who does Vote Mama support and why?

In 2025 and 2026, Vote Mama’s endorsement strategy is specifically focused around supporting candidates running for federal or statewide office (including candidates for governor), candidates running for the Virginia House of Delegates, candidates running for the state legislature in the battleground states of AZ, GA, MI, NC, NV, PA, WI, and candidates running for school board. Our goal is to increase the number of Democratic moms serving at the federal level, defend the Democratic majority in the Virginia House of Delegates, expand, defend or flip state legislative chambers for Democrats in battleground states by electing Democratic moms, and expand, defend or flip school board races by electing Democratic moms. We also support previously endorsed Vote Mama candidates running for re-election.

What policies do the Mamas endorsed by Vote Mama support?

All Vote Mama candidates must support our candidate pledge that ensures their commitment to advancing truly family friendly policies on the campaign trail and once elected.

Candidate Pledge

Our Mamas Uplift All Mamas

American policies deeply fail working families. Too many think that childcare and paid family leave are women’s issues. The reality is that they are the most basic economic issues that American families face.

We lose $57 billion a year because of the lack of childcare. Families lose $20.6 billion in wages because of the lack of paid family leave.

Women’s issues are economic issues, and economic issues are family issues.

The World Economic Forum ranks the United States 86th globally in women’s political empowerment. The first and second places go to Iceland and Norway, countries that offer paid maternity and paternity leave, affordable quality government subsidized childcare, and flexible work schedules that make it possible for women to balance their responsibilities both as mothers and professionals. Meanwhile, the U.S. ranks near the bottom of advanced nations in both maternal and child poverty and in child wellness.

Representation matters

That’s why Vote Mama only endorses mamas who embrace policy positions that improve the lives of all working families. This list is by no means exhaustive, but rather represents foundational progressive values we seek in our candidates.

Vote Mama candidates pledge to

Champion abortion rights, reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy for all people
Support paid family leave and work to end the gender pay gap
Advocate for the passage of universal childcare and pre-K education
Promote commonsense gun reform including support for universal background checks and banning of assault weapons
Support LGBTQ+ equality including transgender rights and gender affirming care
Lead with a commitment to anti-racism and dismantling systems of oppression
Create urgency around climate justice and passing environmental protections
Ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and support all efforts to advance gender equality
Protect democracy and make voting fair, secure and accessible

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Endorsement process

Round one applications close March 7.

Round two applications will run from June 16-27.

If you meet our endorsement strategy criteria and would like to be added to the notifications list for when our endorsement application opens again, please email info@votemama.org.

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They’re right when they say that having a baby changes everything. When I first ran for office, I was newly married and not yet a mom, able to throw myself into the campaign every night and weekend. Now I’m running for re-election as a mom to a one-year-old, and I know that every challenge I face trying to balance work and motherhood is often that much harder for so many moms fighting a system that works so hard against us. We need working moms in office, and I’m so grateful for Vote Mama for not only being in my corner, but for working mamas in every hall of power.”

Linda Johnson

2022 Victory • District 24 • VA State House

With support from Vote Mama, I’m able to prepare my twin’s lunches and canvass launches, run my kids to soccer practice and run for office. The support Vote Mama provides helps to address structural and financial barriers that exist for working mothers, like me, when we run for office. Now is our time to have moms in all of the halls of power bringing our lived experiences to policy making.

Jennifer Carroll Foy

2023 Victory • District 33 • VA State Senate

“When a mom runs for office, it’s usually because something’s broken and she’s ready to fix it,” explains Liuba Grechen Shirley, founder and CEO of Vote Mama. “That urgency (that lived experience) cuts through the noise.”

Linda Johnson

District 24 • GA House

FAQ

There’s another Democratic mom in my race. Can I still be endorsed?

Vote Mama’s policy is not to endorse in Democratic primaries in which there is more than one mom running at the time of an endorsement request. We will happily consider endorsing in the general election.

Do I have to commit to all of Vote Mama’s policy priorities?

Yes. Vote Mama is committed to uplifting ALL mamas and working families, and our policy platform reflects that. Please read our candidate pledge.

How early do you endorse candidates?

Vote Mama takes pride in endorsing and supporting mamas early – oftentimes months before establishment PACs throw their hats in the ring.

In addition to the endorsement, are there other resources that Vote Mama provides?

Fundraising Support: When able, we provide direct financial support to candidates, in addition to fundraising coaching. Unfortunately, fundraising is still the primary measure of candidate viability, and oftentimes it is the biggest challenge when running for office. We step in to disrupt the systems that hold mamas back.

Coaching: We work with candidates and their campaign teams one-on-one to provide guidance around campaign plans, fundraising strategies, policy platforms, voter outreach and communication plans. We also address the challenges mamas face when running head on and how to optimize time management.

Networking: We plug our mamas into the national Vote Mama network to ensure moms running for office feel supported and are not alone. Our candidates know there is a national network of moms cheering them on and who have their back.

Mentorship: We connect candidates with mamas who have run before or are currently running for office. We know on the hardest days, it’s best to talk with someone who has been through it.

Will I receive direct financial support from Vote Mama if I am endorsed?

We prioritize financial support to our targeted states based on Vote Mama’s political strategy. Please reference our 2025 / 2026 political strategy above. Furthermore, due to campaign finance law restrictions, we are only able to consider making financial support to state and local candidates in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Washington, DC, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, New York, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. We are unable to provide financial support to all candidates.

How does the endorsement process work?

If you’d like to receive Vote Mama’s endorsement, and you meet our 2025/2026 eligibility criteria, fill out our endorsement application.

Once submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please try again or email us at info@votemama.org.

Mama candidates who are running for office and meet our endorsement criteria, including our targets based on level of office and state, may submit an online application to be considered for endorsement. Once an application is submitted, it is reviewed by our team to confirm the candidate’s eligibility and assess the policy stances of each candidate. We then extend an invite to participate in a 30-minute endorsement interview with a member of Vote Mama’s political team. During the endorsement interview, we seek to get to know the candidate, why they are running, their campaign strategy including fundraising and voter outreach efforts, and how they are making their campaign family friendly. After the endorsement interview, candidates are notified if they are endorsed and next steps in the process, including submitting endorsement materials needed for a public rollout.

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Vote Mama Lobby is breaking the structural barriers that moms face when running for and serving in elected office. Your gift today will help us build a better political system–one that prioritizes American families.

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