Our Mission

Change the face of Pennsylvania politics by identifying, training and providing a statewide network so more Democratic women run for office, get elected and seek higher office. Emerge is the only 6-month cohort based training program for Democratic women in Pennsylvania.

Who We Are

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

Emerge Pennsylvania is part of the Emerge national network. Each state individually oversees the locally-based state training program, board and alumnae network. Our goal is to engage more Democratic women statewide, build capacity to train more women to run for local office and work to expand our program offerings to meet the growing need for candidate training programs across the state. In addition, we provide our program’s alumnae with a strong, supportive statewide network of women in politics, which also includes a national association of Emerge alumnae, the Emerge board and advisory council members.

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. Emerge Pennsylvania also offers campaign staffer training so women running for office have qualified individuals to support their success.

• In 2017 100% of our Emerge Pennsylvania Grads on the ballot won.
• More than 65 alums are currently serving in elected office across the United States.
• 21 Emerge Pennsylvania alumnae and current cohort members are running for Congress and the State Legislature in 2018.
• Just three short years after the launch of Emerge Pennsylvania 18 Emerge PA Alumnae are now serving as elected officials across the state.
  
• Strong record of diversity: Women of color make up a growing percentage of our classes, and board as well as our executive leadership team.
  

Our Partnership with Emerge

Emerge Pennsylvania 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 the 1,000 elections to date and hold office at every level of government. There are currently Emerge affiliates in 24 states — Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado,  Connecticut, 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 Pennsylvania’s training program are plugged into both the state network of Emerge Pennsylvania alumnae, as well as the national network of Emerge alumnae across the country.

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 are more actively involved in a variety of gender-salient issue areas, including healthcare, the economy, education and the environment.
• Women legislators are more responsive to constituents, value cooperation over hierarchical power and find ways to engineer solutions in situations where men have trouble finding common ground.