Running for office is a job just like any other. You wouldn’t walk into an operating room and expect to be allowed to operate without getting trained first, would you? Running for office is no different— it takes some research, some training, some practice, and some folks to instruct you along the way! Sign up below for our incredible training opportunities and let’s get started!

Who should sign up for this?
Anyone considering a potential run for office who has not attended a LEAD NC training yet.

What will I learn?

This training is the first stop on the journey to civic leadership with LEAD.  We discuss the moment we are in and what kind of leadership we need to meet this moment, how to tell your story, and provide an introduction to fundraising principles and building your base, and provide factors to consider when deciding to run for office. Participants leave equipped with the ability to assess their readiness to run, a to-do list of things to tackle before they put their names on the ballot, and a template for the conversation they need to have with themselves, their loved ones, and community members before they make the decision to run.

Who should sign up for this?
Candidates. People who are 100% running this year or next year.

What will I learn?

Get Elected is an intensive weekend of training where people who have firmly decided they plan to run learn what a good campaign looks like and skills like targeting, fundraising, budgeting, field, messaging and media. We encourage candidates to bring their campaign managers with them!  We offer this training for local, judicial and state legislative candidates. 

Who should sign up for this?
This is for folks interested in building on the knowledge from Get Ready to LEAD who are either committed to running or thinking about running in the next two years.

What will I learn?

Joining the LEAD NC Running Club is an opportunity for folks considering running for office in the near future to join others like them on a monthly basis for conversation, support, and education.  While the content of each session varies, it includes a deeper dive into subjects like fundraising and messaging, as well as glimpses behind the curtains into topics like what does the actual day to day of the office look like?  Or: how do sitting elected officials balance the demands of their office, their work and their families and sometimes their campaigns? The goal is to provide a supportive, collegial space to foster the next group of LEAD NC alum into public service. And we have T-shirts and medals for when you get to filing day!

Who should sign up for this?
Candidates who have filed and are currently running for office and their staff.

What will I learn?

In this training you’ll learn how to successfully communicate with voters by approaching messaging through a values based lens.  Participants leave understanding how to formulate messages on any issue and with a handy guide full of talking points. This training has been offered to School Board and State Legislative candidates, and will be expanded to include Judicial candidates in 2026.  

Who should apply for this?

Anyone interested in managing a campaign at any level of the ballot.

What will I learn?

LEAD NC is thrilled to partner with Lillian’s List and The Arena to present the premiere training in North Carolina for campaign managers. This multi-day experiential learning curriculum will train you on politics, data, field, communication and people skills you need to run a top tier race, and outstanding participants have the opportunity to be matched with competitive races in the state legislature and judiciary.

(You should also apply if your bestie or your neighbor is running for office and has asked you to volunteer as their manager!)