June Diane Raphael - Represent: The Womans Guide to Running for Office and Changing the World

Represent

The Woman's Guide to Running for Office & Changing the World

June Diane Raphael and Kate Black

Workman Publishing New York

Dedication

We dedicate this book to all the men who have been making decisions about women... without women. Thank you for your years of public service at tables without women present. Thank you for your time, your energy, and your talent. We appreciate you.

And also... were coming for you.

Contents

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT MORE WOMEN RUN FOR OFFICE?

What Are Our Current Numbers? How We Got Here: A History Why Representation Matters

DOESNT SOMEONE HAVE TO NOMINATE ME?

Youre Already Nominated How Did It Feel?

AM I QUALIFIED TO RUN FOR OFFICE?

Women vs Men on Qualifications Your Experience Is Your Expertise The Rsums of Current Leaders

WHY AM I RUNNING?

What Fires You Up? How to Channel That Energy into Your Future Campaign Practice Your Pitch

WHERE AM I RUNNING, FOR GODS SAKE?

Meet Your Match: An Overview of Offices You Can Run For

BUT THERE ARE SOME REQUIREMENTS, RIGHT?

Filing Deadlines, Age Limits, Residency Requirements, Oh My! Beth and Hilda Figure Out the Requirements for the Offices They Are Interested In

WHEN DO I TELL PEOPLE IM RUNNING FOR OFFICE? SPOILER ALERT: THE ANSWER IS TODAY

Why Telling People You Want to Run for Office Matters Keeping Track of Who You Tell and Taking in Their Feedback

WHO IS GOING TO HELP ME?

Who Are Your People? How to Harness Your People for Your Campaign

DO I NEED TO RAISE A SHIT TON OF MONEY?

Short Answer: Probably, but Size Matters You Can Do It, We Can Help

WHAT ABOUT THOSE PESKY NUDES I TOOK? AND OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT MY LIFE ON THE INTERNEt

What Did YOU Post? What Have Others Put on the Internet About You? What to Do About the Stuff You Cant Control How Your Campaign Can Use the Internet for Good Expanding Your Cyber Circle

WHAT DO I WEAR?

The Inherent Sexism in This Conversation Choosing a Uniform Finding Whats Right for You

BUT SERIOUSLY, HOW WILL THIS WORK IN MY REAL LIFE? PART ONE

Do You Have the Time? Can You Afford It?

BUT SERIOUSLY, HOW WILL THIS WORK IN MY REAL LIFE? PART DEUX

How Will This Work with Your Job? The Care You Give, the Care You Need

THE HOLY BIBLE

Take Advantage of the Resources Available to You

HOW DO I SUPPORT OTHER WOMEN?

Ask Her to Run Support Her When She Does Interrupt Sexist Bullshit

Goodbye from June and Kate

DO NOT SKIP THIS

Neelamjit Dhaliwals Further Reading List

DO NOT SKIP THIS Either

W hite Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh

A Letter from June and Kate

Dear Reader,

On election night, November 8, 2016, I (June Diane Raphael, actress-writer-podcasterhyphenate haver) boarded a red-eye from LA to NY to go to a funeral, which would turn out to be one of the brighter spots of the next few days. The two other seats in my row were empty. A news notification popped up on my phone as I settled into my seat. The state of Florida was called for Trump. Alone in my row, I was feelinghow to put thisshaky.

At takeoff I still thought there was a way for this to turn around. There just had to be. But when we reached our cruising altitude, CNN correspondent John King was on the television explaining there was no path for Hillary. I stared at him. I wondered what happened with him and Dana Bash and why they didnt go the distance. And then I wondered if this was real life and if Hillary had actually lost or if the plane had crashed and I was a ghost? Being a ghost didnt seem all that

A man scooted up from his full row behind me and sat in the aisle seat of my row. He had seen an open seat and, well... he was gonna take it. He started taking out his computer and setting himself up.

Nope. Nah. No fucking way, dude.

Sir, Im so sorry. I actually bought all of the seats in this row. Thats mine. That seat is mine.

Because we are just meeting, Dear Reader, please know that Im not usually in the business of lying to strangers. But when this very sweet man looked up at me, I saw something in his eyes. A hint of recognition? Maybe he knew me from TV? The Netflix series Grace and Frankie? From my podcast How Did This Get Made? From a guest-star role I did on the failed NBC sitcom Animal Practice , in which I played opposite a monkey? I tried to make my face somehow look more recognizablea strange endeavor. But somehow, some way, this man nodded, saying, Of course, and started to pack up his things.

Of course!

Of course, I had purchased AN ENTIRE ROW, like any other actress of mild fame would! The truth was I simply could not bear to be with anyone as election night unfolded. I needed those seats. Not for my body; I needed them for my damn mind.

I wont take you through the rest of the flight. Ill only mention that when the 270 electoral votes came in, a very intoxicated man in first class jumped up screaming with joy and then started gyrating against his seat. Quick, purposeful thrusts were accompanied by lots of OH YEAHs. Hillary had lost. Donald Trump had won. And I was watching a man hump a seat.

My eyes popped open the next morning. I sat up from the empty row I had not purchased, defensively pulled my coat over my Hillary T-shirt, and peered down the aisle to see where the chair rapist was. To make matters so much worse, he was cozied up in a blanket snug as a bug in a rug, sleeping peacefully in the very seat hed had his way with just hours before. And I thought...

Should I run for office?

B ut seriously, I thought to myself, should I? If Trump is qualified to be our president, am I not just as qualified? Maybe even more so? I stared at my row. Were there more seats to claim as my own? Without explanation or apology?

But where would I begin? What would I run for? What about my past? Ive for sure texted topless pics to various gentlemen callers in my day. Does that disqualify me altogether? What would I do about my career? My children? I already feel like I dont spend enough time with them. How much money would I need to raise? And... what about those pics again?

I had no idea how to answer these questions. I searched for a current, comprehensive guide and came up empty-handed. But it turns out there was a woman who could answer all of my questions. Heres how I found her.

Remembering that my friend Morgan mentioned shed gone to a fundraiser for EMILYs List (an organization dedicated to getting pro-choice Democratic women into office), I sent her the following text:

Ignore the last part of that text exchange, thanks.

Im introduced to a woman named Michelle who worked at EMILYs List and who introduces me to Kate over email.

On Dec. 5, 2016, at 12:50 PM, Kira wrote:

Hi June,

Here are some times that work for Kate this week, please let me know which one works best for you, or if youd like me to list additional times the following week.

Tues 12/6: 4:30pmET/1:30pmPT

Wed 12/7: any window between 12pmET/9amPT and 3pmET/12pmPT

Th 12/8: 1pmET/10amPT, 4pmET/1pmPT

Thanks!

Kira