What is Emerge Vermont?

Our Mission

To increase the number of Democratic women leaders from diverse backgrounds in public office through recruitment, training, and providing a powerful network.

Why Women?

• Studies have shown women in elected office overwhelmingly support and push forward democratic principles like equality and fairness.
• When women hold public office they focus on issues that matter most to women, including healthcare, the economy, education and the environment.
• Women legislators are more responsive to constituents, value cooperation over hierarchical power, and find collaborative solutions to difficult problems.

We offer the only in-depth, 70+ hour training program that provides aspiring women leaders with cutting-edge tools and training to run for elected office and elevate themselves in our political system.

Our program’s trainers are a skilled team of campaign consultants, advisors and staff from all over Vermont and across the U.S. Participants learn from these experts and develop practical knowledge in areas such as public speaking, fundraising, campaign strategy, voter contact, media and messaging, and others. Candidates also meet dynamic women who hold elected and appointed office and become a part of a supportive network, which includes Emerge alums and Cabinet members from across the country.

Emerge Vermont Quick Facts

• 186 women and non-binary individuals have completed our Signature Training or Bootcamp.
• Currently 98 alums hold 123 elected or appointed public offices.
• Today, 45% of alums and trainees are in office, 54% have been in office, and 67% have run for office. 
• 71 Emerge Vermont trained women ran for office in 2022.
• 69 Emerge Vermont trained women were elected to public office in 2022, including US Representative, Speaker of the House, Secretary of State, and Attorney General.
• 81% win rate for Emerge Vermont alums running for office.

Emerge

Emerge Vermont is a state affiliate of Emerge, which has trained more than 5,000 women to run for office since 2002. Emerge alums across the country have won more than 1,000 elections to date and hold office at every level of government. There are currently Emerge affiliates in 27 states — Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin, with plans to expand to more in the near future. Women who graduate from Emerge Vermont’s training program are involved with both the state network of Emerge Vermont alums, as well as the national network of Emerge alums across the country.