Parity Starts Downballot.
Electing women to state legislatures. Building political power from the ground up.
THE FIRST ASK // OUR APPROACH
We don't just ask women to run. We help them win.
A First Ask can change who holds power.
THE FUTURE OF POLITICAL LEADERSHIP STARTS HERE
01 / RECRUITMENT
Women are still far less likely than men to be encouraged to run for office. The First Ask identifies promising leaders, connects them with key supporters, and helps them take the leap from considering a campaign to launching one. We make sure women know they don't have to do it alone.
02 / TRAINING
Running for office shouldn't require insider connections or years of political experience. We provide first-time candidates and their teams with individualized training, practical resources, and access to experienced campaign professionals. From building a campaign plan to hiring staff, we help women navigate the process with confidence.
03 / DIRECT SUPPORT
We don't just offer advice. We roll up our sleeves and work alongside our candidates, providing hands-on support with fundraising, research, communications, voter outreach, and field operations. Our services are tailored to each campaign and provided at no cost to candidates.
04 / PARTNERSHIPS
Winning a campaign takes more than a great candidate. We connect women with state parties, labor organizations, potential endorsers, and local partners who can help them build momentum and reach voters. These relationships create lasting networks of support that extend well beyond Election Day.
THE FIRST ASK // OUR IMPACT
What Happens When We Invest in Women.
85%
2026 WIN RATE
50+
CAMPAIGNS SUPPORTED
43
WOMEN ELECTED SINCE 2023
11
STATES REPRESENTED
Behind every number is a woman who stepped forward, a campaign believed in her, and a community ready for change.
THE FIRST ASK // THE WOMEN BEHIND THE CAMPAIGNS
In Their Own Words.
Every campaign is different. Here's what having The First Ask in their corner meant to the women we've supported.
“I know that many believed, through to November 4th, that my election was a long shot since the incumbent had been in office 35 years. The First Ask was one of the first PACs to reach out to me early to offer support to my campaign. I believed we would win. The early money and belief from The First Ask helped build our momentum to garner wider support and attention for our campaign from donors and volunteers.”
VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES, DISTRICT 66
NICOLE COLE
“The First Ask endorsed and supported me early (before it was cool). The organization provided material support with funding, texting, and phone banking, and they were there for me on an emotional level whenever I needed them. That kind of loving support from other women is exactly what we need to build the future of politics all women deserve in America.”
TEXAS STATE SENATE, DISTRICT 15
MOLLY COOK
The Decisions That Shape Our Lives Are Made Close to Home.
THE FIRST ASK // WHY STATE LEGISLATURES
BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION
A Pipeline Doesn’t Build Itself.
State legislatures aren't just where consequential laws are written. They're also where future governors, members of Congress, and national leaders begin their political careers.
Look no further than 2026. Texas State Representative Gina Hinojosa and former Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree were elected governor, while former state representatives Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota and Juliana Stratton of Illinois won seats in the U.S. Senate. All four began their journeys to higher office in state legislatures.
But women can't advance through a political pipeline they were never encouraged or supported to enter. If we want more women in positions of power tomorrow, we need to invest in their first campaigns today.
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Minimum wages, tax breaks, and healthcare policy are all under the control of state legislatures. Costs are rising while wages stagnate, and it is your state legislators’ responsibility to fix that. Do you trust the electeds currently in power to do so?
We can have state legislatures who work for us, if we have state legislators who work for us.
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Do you think the schools in your state are safe? Are the teachers well paid?
States, not the federal government, decide how much funding their schools receive. They also determine gun control policy, and what kind of police presence individual schools should have. This goes for colleges too - if your University cut DEI, your state legislature is to blame.
It’s time to elect state legislators who take their state’s education system seriously.
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Redistricting efforts have made national news as the President pressures states to hand over more gerrymandered seats. But no matter what kind of political tension the Administration creates, it’s still up to the states to say no to unfair maps.
Your state legislators alone have the power to stop the gerrymandering race to the bottom. It’s time to elect legislators who are beholden to the constitution, not Republican power grabs.
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As Americans grapple with rising utility bills and increasingly extreme weather, state governments are making consequential decisions about our energy future. From regulating utilities and investing in infrastructure to protecting clean air and drinking water, state legislatures help determine how communities prepare for environmental challenges and who bears the costs.
Your state legislators have the power to protect natural resources, strengthen communities against extreme weather, and help ensure that reliable, affordable energy isn't a luxury reserved for the wealthy.
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While Washington debates the future of American healthcare, state legislatures are making decisions that determine whether millions of Americans can access the care they need. From Medicaid expansion and maternal healthcare to protecting rural hospitals, state lawmakers have enormous influence over who receives care and what that care looks like.
State legislators have the power to expand healthcare access, protect essential services, and make sure families aren't left behind when federal policies change.
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America's housing crisis isn't just about rising rents and home prices. It's about decades of policy decisions that have made it harder to build homes, find affordable housing, and stay in the communities we love. While Washington debates solutions, state legislatures have the power to remove barriers to construction, strengthen tenant protections, and invest in affordable housing.
Your state legislators can help determine whether the next generation can afford to buy a home, whether families can stay in their neighborhoods, and whether communities have the housing they need to thrive.
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In the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson decision, the Supreme Court turned abortion rights legislation back over to the states. That means your right to choose is currently controlled by a state legislature. If your state representative is a Republican man, then a republican man is presiding over your reproductive rights.
To protect your right to choose, or win it back, we need to elect progressive, pro-choice candidates in our state legislatures.
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From the minimum wage to paid family leave, some of the most important protections Americans have at work are determined by the state they live in. While Congress struggles to agree on national standards, state legislatures are deciding whether workers can earn a living wage, take time off to care for a newborn, or organize for better working conditions.
Your state legislators have the power to strengthen workplace protections, support working families, and ensure that economic growth benefits the people whose labor makes it possible.
From healthcare and education to housing and reproductive rights, state legislatures make decisions that affect our everyday lives. Yet these powerful offices are too often overlooked.
Let’s Talk.
Whether you’re considering running for office, want to support our work, or help elect more women to state legislatures, we’d love to hear from you.
Let’s build women’s political power together.
