Ready to Run Iowa: Campaign Training for Women

04/21/2025

Tuesday is the last day to register for this Friday's Ready to Run Iowa workshops! Join us at Iowa State University's Reiman Gardens for workshops on campaign messaging and talking with constituents, as well as time for networking over lunch. https://cattcenter.iastate.edu/events/ready-to-run-iowa

01/21/2025

On Feb. 21, join us for two FREE virtual Ready to Run Iowa workshops. Register through Feb. 18 at https://go.iastate.edu/READYTORUN.
More information about Ready to Run Iowa, including the March and April workshop topics: https://cattcenter.iastate.edu/events/ready-to-run-iowa/

01/14/2025

Registration for the Feb. 21 Ready to Run Iowa virtual workshops is just a week away!

If you would like to get an email with the registration link on Jan. 21, email us at [email protected]. We'll also post the registration link on the Catt Center website that morning.

Registration for the two virtual 2025 Ready to Run Iowa workshops to be held on Feb. 21 opens in just one week.

12/27/2024

Consider this your nudge to run for office! And who else in your life might need a little nudge?

Check out the 2025 Ready to Run Iowa schedule at https://cattcenter.iastate.edu/events/ready-to-run-iowa. Registration for the Feb. 21 workshops opens on Jan. 21.

Governor Kim Reynolds and the woman she just appointed as lieutenant governor got similar — and not that uncommon — starts in politics. They ran after someone encouraged them to do so. Reynolds often tells the story of how her husband, Kevin, encouraged her to run for Clarke County Treasurer in ...

12/04/2024

10/15/2024

The 2025 Ready to Run Iowa schedule has been posted on the Catt Center website! Check it out and spread the word!

Feb 21
Getting Involved in Politics — 9-11:30 a.m.
– Message from Congress to Campus
– Serving on boards and commissions
– Finding a race

Deciding to Run — 1-3:30 p.m.
– Iowa election laws
– Overcoming doubts or anxiety
– Women’s campaign experiences

March 28
Launching Your Campaign — 9-11:30 a.m.
– Creating a campaign plan
– Building a team
– Hosting campaign events

Campaign Fundraising — 1-3:30 p.m.
– Fundraising: Donors, PACs and parties
– Asking for donations
– Iowa campaign finance rules and regulations

April 25
Campaign Messaging — 9-11:30 a.m.
– Your story: Crafting a campaign message
– Getting media attention and interviews

Talking to Constituents — 1-3:30 p.m.
– Taking the mic: Forums, debates and stump speeches
– Using online strategies
– Fieldwork and direct voter contact

Ready to Run® Iowa is a nonpartisan campaign training program to encourage women to run for elective office, position themselves for appointive office, work on a campaign or become involved in public life as leaders in their communities. Since 2007, the Catt Center has offered the Ready to Run Iowa...

08/29/2024

Mark your calendars and spread the word! More information about each of the workshops is coming soon.

06/04/2024

Today is Iowa's primary election. Polls are open until 8 p.m.

Find your polling place: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx

Election Day voter registration information: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/edr.html

Don’t forget your ID! https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/edfaq.html #2

06/03/2024

Tomorrow, June 4, is Iowa's primary election. Are you ready?

Find your polling place: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx

Election Day voter registration information: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/edr.html

Don’t forget your ID! https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/edfaq.html #2

02/14/2024

During her second term as president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (1915-1920), Carrie Chapman Catt wrote about the creation of an organization to train women in their new duties of citizenship once voting rights were won. At its 1919 convention, NAWSA resolved to form a league of women voters. That fall, Catt and other women’s suffrage leaders went on a “Wake Up America” tour to advocate for ratification of the 19th Amendment and explain the purpose of the newly-formed league. On Feb. 14, 1920, the national League of Women Voters was formally organized at NAWSA’s convention in Chicago, six months before the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granting women the right to vote was ratified.

The staff of the Catt Center encourages you to celebrate Valentine’s Day by becoming more involved in the political process and encouraging others to do the same.

12/12/2023

Catch our own Karen Kedrowski and her coauthor, Melissa Haussman of Carleton University in Ottawa, on IPR's River to River on Wednesday at noon, as they discuss their new book, "Walking a Gendered Tightrope: Theresa May and Nancy Pelosi as Legislative Leaders."

River to River is a conversation about the news — from an Iowa perspective. Together, we dig into the story behind the headlines, talking with newsmakers and experts to find out how the news affects you. Ben Kieffer hosts this national award-winning program, which takes on challenging topics, expl...

11/08/2023

Thinking about running for office? Check out the Barbara Lee Family Foundation's "Essential Guide."
https://www.barbaraleefoundation.org/essential-guide

(And yes, we know it's just one day after the election--but it's never too early to start thinking about YOUR run for office.)

This new edition is a dynamic look at what it takes for women to run for office and succeed based on 25 years of research.