What We Do

Our Mission

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

What We Do

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

Our program’s trainers are comprised of an elite team of campaign consultants, advisors, and staff from across the state and nationally who have been involved in some of the most successful campaigns and initiatives seen in recent election cycles. 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 an array of dynamic women who hold elected and appointed office and become a part of a supportive network, which includes a state-wide and national association of Emerge alumnae, the Emerge board, and advisory council members.

Emerge Kentucky Quick Facts

2020 Primary Election Highlights:

• Of the successes for Emerge Kentucky alums, four were first time re-elects.
• Dr. Karen Berg became the first Democrat to serve in the KY State Senate for District 26 in almost 30 years.
  • This is the 4th seat that Emerge KY alums have flipped in the last 4 years!
• Col. Pamela Stevenson won the Kentucky State House race for District 43 with an impressive 74% of votes. She joins Rep. Attica Scott, another Emerge KY alum, as the 2nd African American woman currently serving in the General Assembly.
• Nima Kulkarni, the first Indian American woman to serve in the KY General Assembly, won her re-match overwhelmingly against the former incumbent by 79% of the vote.

Emerge

Emerge Kentucky is a state affiliate of Emerge, which has trained more than 4,000 women to run for office since 2002. Emerge alumnae 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 26 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 soon. Women who graduate from Emerge Kentucky’s training program are plugged into both the state network of Emerge Kentucky alumnae, as well as the national network of Emerge alumnae across the country.