FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 8, 2025
Contact: press@runforsomething.net
Nearly 10,000 Young Leaders Sign Up to Run for Something Following Mamdani’s Victory
RFS will host a national call to unveil a new training and mentorship program supporting prospective candidates.
NEW YORK, NY — In the two weeks since Zohran Mamdani’s landmark upset in the Democratic primary for New York City Mayor, nearly 10,000 people have reached out to Run for Something (RFS) expressing interest in running for office. Harnessing this momentum, Run for Something is launching a new training and mentorship program designed to support new prospective candidates and the thousands of others in their pipeline. RFS will host a national call on July 15th to unveil the program and offer guidance to all of their new prospective candidates who are eager for the opportunity to turn their enthusiasm into real political change.
“Zohran’s victory has lit a fire under a generation of aspiring leaders—and we’re seeing it spread rapidly,” said Amanda Litman, co-founder and President of Run for Something. “Nearly 10,000 people stepping up to run for something in just the past two weeks is a monumental moment. Young people are ready to move past a generation of failed leadership and are taking the reins.”
Some features of the new program include:
- New training tracks to help prospective candidates figure out if, when, and how to run
- A national network of mentors, including former candidates and campaign professionals
- A new online community space where prospective candidates can connect with others, ask questions, and get support along the way
The spike in candidate interest builds on significant momentum for Run for Something throughout 2025. Since last November’s presidential election, over 55,000 people have signed up to run through Run for Something, with surges following major political moments, including inauguration day and key legislative battles. The organization’s total pipeline now exceeds 200,000 potential candidates nationwide, with this surge representing one of the largest two-week recruitment periods in the organization’s history.
Press interested in attending the July 15 call should reach out to press@runforsomething.com.
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Run for Something (RFS) recruits and supports young progressive candidates for down-ballot offices. Since its founding, RFS has helped elect nearly 1,500 candidates across the country, including 18 candidates in red-to-blue seats in the 2024 election cycle. Today, RFS has the largest database of any other Democratic organization, with over 55,000 people reaching out since November with interest in running for office.