Amanda Litman
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amandalitman.bsky.social
Amanda Litman
@amandalitman.bsky.social
61K followers 1.2K following 3.1K posts
Co-founder & President of @runforsomething.net & RFS Civics / Writer x2: http://runforsomething.net/book & WHEN WE'RE IN CHARGE, out now at whenwereincharge.com / Mom, also x2

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amandalitman.bsky.social
Amanda Litman @amandalitman.bsky.social · May 13
WHEN WE’RE IN CHARGE is now out!!

Based on a decade+ of experience + 100s of interviews, I wrote a practical guidebook for millennials and gen Z on how to be an effective leader without being an asshole.

whenwereincharge.com
amandalitman.bsky.social
An entire 45 minute @hankgreen.bsky.social video answering the question of why boomers run the government - in case you need some Thanksgiving eve viewing material that perfectly sums up why @runforsomething.net exists. youtu.be/IwgzuSqb7ys?...
Why Was Every President Born in the Same Year?
YouTube video by Hank Green
youtu.be
November 27, 2025 at 1:37 AM
amandalitman.bsky.social
If this is even directionally right, 2026 is going to be a great year to run for office. We’ll help you. runforwhat.net
November 26, 2025 at 2:24 PM
amandalitman.bsky.social
Democrat (& @runforsomething.net alum!!) @aftynbehn.bsky.social is only down 2 points in a district Trump won by 22 points 👀👀👀

emersoncollegepolling.com/tennessee-7t...
Tennessee 7th District 2025 Special Election Poll: Republican Van Epps and Democrat Behn Locked In Tight Race - Emerson Polling
Voters Split on Trump’s Job Performance as Economic Issues Top Voters’ Concerns A new Emerson…Full Release & Results
emersoncollegepolling.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Reposted by Amanda Litman
contrariannews.org
This is exactly why young people are stepping up and taking charge in politics.

@amandalitman.bsky.social's interview is up now on Substack.
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/you-should-run-for-office-amanda
November 25, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Reposted by Amanda Litman
runforsomething.net
How it started:@aftynbehn.bsky.social jumped into local organizing because her community deserved better.

How it’s going: She’s now an RFS alum running in a House special election in a district Trump won by 22 points.

That’s what bold leadership looks like.

https://nyti.ms/48c03SV
November 25, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Reposted by Amanda Litman
nabbp.bsky.social
Really excellent piece. Great explainer, but, more,we in the older generation might not have relatives living this reality. It’s not enough to know how a candidate will impact ME. It’s important to know how they impact ppl overall including the most vulnerable.

talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/young-c...
Young Candidates Can Speak to the Affordability Crisis Because They’re Living It
This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:54 PM
amandalitman.bsky.social
Do you know how much childcare costs per month in 2025?

Do you know the average rent or what a “starter home” costs (or if they even exist) where you live?
trypax.charityweb.net Kurt Hansen 🥄🏳️‍🌈🌎 @trypax.charityweb.net · 1d
Umm...this has always been true for a vast majority of people. We moved 25 years ago from where I most wanted to live because we could not afford a big enough house for our growing family. And we're wealthy.
November 25, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Amanda Litman
rwclimate.bsky.social
A great quote for those of us in the older generations:

"Maybe that’s what older generations don’t quite see yet: young people aren’t asking for anything radical. We’re just asking for the space to build our lives — and maybe even dream a little, too."
November 25, 2025 at 2:23 PM
amandalitman.bsky.social
Young people feel like we've lost agency over our lives. We can't *really* pick where to live, or whether to change jobs, or how many kids to have -- the cost of living makes us feel trapped.

Younger candidates can powerfully speak to that emotional truth. talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/young-c...
Young Candidates Can Speak to the Affordability Crisis Because They’re Living It
This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:17 PM
amandalitman.bsky.social
New from me in @talkingpointsmemo.com: The generational divide of our moment isn’t about partisanship or social issues. It’s about how differently each generation experiences what it takes to build a good life.

talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/young-c...
Young Candidates Can Speak to the Affordability Crisis Because They’re Living It
This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Reposted by Amanda Litman
contrariannews.org
After November 4th, “more than 5,000 people signed up to run for office."

@amandalitman.bsky.social break downs this surge and what it means for the midterms.
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/you-should-run-for-office-amanda
YOU should run for office! Amanda Litman On Why, and How, to Support New Candidates
"I am refusing to accept that the way we did things yesterday has to be the way we do them tomorrow."
contrarian.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Reposted by Amanda Litman
mikechenwriter.bsky.social
If you read one political thing today, please spend a few minutes with @amandalitman.bsky.social's Feel Good Updates from @runforsomething.net. It very clearly breaks down a winning strategy of progressive messaging adapted for individual regions and demos. open.substack.com/pub/rfsfeelg...
RFS feel-good update (11/24): 43 red-to-blue flips!
Get the details on some of our amazing wins
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:08 AM
amandalitman.bsky.social
Just for full transparency:

- I deleted my original post
- I broke my own "always read the full thing before I share it rule" and that was clearly dumb
- Most importantly: I maintain (as I have for the past year+) that James Carville should shut the fuck up.
amandalitman.bsky.social Amanda Litman @amandalitman.bsky.social · 2d
Went back & finished reading this, my b for sharing w/o completing - he is wrong on a lot! We should *not* throw marginalized people under the bus! I maintain he should shut the fuck up! But "be mad at the status quo & fight for affordable housing + childcare" is better than "roll over & play dead"
November 24, 2025 at 9:01 PM
amandalitman.bsky.social
What we learned from @runforsomething.net’s 43 red to blue flips ✨
November 24, 2025 at 6:52 PM
amandalitman.bsky.social
I don’t expect WHEN WE’RE IN CHARGE to show up on end-of-year best-of lists — a leadership book for millennials & gen Z isn’t exactly the kind of thing that screams “CRITIC’S CHOICE!!” — but that doesn’t stop me from being a little bummed when it’s not on there.

Every writer does this, right????
November 24, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Reposted by Amanda Litman
amandalitman.bsky.social
This is exciting: A generous @runforsomething.net supporter is matching all donations up to $300,000. If you've been waiting for the right time to give, your support will go twice as far. secure.actblue.com/donate/2025g...
Let's build sustainable power!
Run for Something elects young diverse progressives to local office to help Democrats build permanent power for the long haul — no matter who’s in the White House.
secure.actblue.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:57 PM
amandalitman.bsky.social
Where are they, you ask?

Signing up with @runforsomething.net to run for office in record numbers.
brendannyhan.bsky.social Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 2d
My @nytimes.com op-ed: The Boomers Are Protesting Trump. Where Is Gen Z? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/o... (gift link)

The key point: "The absence of young people from conventional protests is both a problem and a warning."
Opinion | The Boomers Are Protesting Trump. Where Is Gen Z?
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Amanda Litman
somewherenbetween.bsky.social
Great read!
amandalitman.bsky.social Amanda Litman @amandalitman.bsky.social · 2d
This week's @runforsomething.net feel-good update: A deep-dive into our 43 (!!) red-to-blue flips, including trends we identified & what's scalable to everywhere in 2026 & beyond. rfsfeelgoodupdates.substack.com/p/rfs-feel-g...
Run for Something has always been tight on values, flexible on message, and above all else, centered in community. These flips are the result of much more than an anti-Trump backlash. They are a celebration of candidates who are good fits for the place and people they ran to serve. They are the result of people with lived experiences that resonate with voters — and authentic connections to their communities — stepping up to lead. We flipped seats with former Republicans, veterans, housing advocates, moms, dads, teachers, renters, ambitious college students – young people who were done waiting their turn and ready to bring real solutions to the issues their voters feel at a hyper-local level. Some fast facts about our red to blue flips: Represent 10 states 70% municipal races 23% school board 7% state legislative seats Biggest swing from Trump’s election: Andrew Harbaugh in Clarion, PA – a district Trump won 70/30. Flipped the overall balance of power on three municipal boards and two school boards. Better sidewalks are a winner – or at least, represent a winning idea. Know the actual community issues. Understand what people are talking about at the local diner counter,grocery store aisle, or school pick up line. Go beyond the typical “tested messages” and dig into the authentic concerns and ways to make life just a little bit easier. And then shape talking points that reflect what you’ve heard. Listen, reflect, respond…It should be obvious, but most establishment politicians aren’t great at this. People want to be heard, not told what they care about because of a beltway consultant’s focus group or poll. Some trends we saw that helped propel our red to blue candidates (now elected alums!) to victory: Affordable housing is a winning issue. While the national establishment is just catching up on this news, our local candidates have been beating this drum since they filed to run for office (and oftentimes, for years before they ran). Flip Republican-coded language on its head. Fiscal responsibility, accountability, students’ rights, budgeting with taxpayer dollars in mind, increased support for public safety are all threads found in most of these campaigns. How those policies showed up, however, were rooted in solutions, not aggrievement. As one candidate put it, “prevention, preparation, and compassion– not fear.” Transparency matters. As trust in politicians and government is at a national all-time low, local candidates inherently understood how tired people are of feeling like the government is not working for them – and bringing decisions, budgets, and policy conversations into the community in modernized ways was central to 90% of the campaigns that flipped seats. Honor the place. Whether born and raised or transplanted with intention, a love, respect, and understanding for the nature of the place, its history, and its people matters. People vote for people – and people want to have elected officials that genuinely feel like good neighbors. Lived experiences relevant to today’s needs are important. The candidates that represent RFS flipped seats have real and recent stories that connect to issues many in their communities may face – from growing up in public housing or with food assistance to being caregivers, losing parents, struggling with childcare – having the first person ability to connect the dots between real life and policy impacts resonates.
November 24, 2025 at 2:31 PM
amandalitman.bsky.social
This week's @runforsomething.net feel-good update: A deep-dive into our 43 (!!) red-to-blue flips, including trends we identified & what's scalable to everywhere in 2026 & beyond. rfsfeelgoodupdates.substack.com/p/rfs-feel-g...
Run for Something has always been tight on values, flexible on message, and above all else, centered in community. These flips are the result of much more than an anti-Trump backlash. They are a celebration of candidates who are good fits for the place and people they ran to serve. They are the result of people with lived experiences that resonate with voters — and authentic connections to their communities — stepping up to lead. We flipped seats with former Republicans, veterans, housing advocates, moms, dads, teachers, renters, ambitious college students – young people who were done waiting their turn and ready to bring real solutions to the issues their voters feel at a hyper-local level. Some fast facts about our red to blue flips: Represent 10 states 70% municipal races 23% school board 7% state legislative seats Biggest swing from Trump’s election: Andrew Harbaugh in Clarion, PA – a district Trump won 70/30. Flipped the overall balance of power on three municipal boards and two school boards. Better sidewalks are a winner – or at least, represent a winning idea. Know the actual community issues. Understand what people are talking about at the local diner counter,grocery store aisle, or school pick up line. Go beyond the typical “tested messages” and dig into the authentic concerns and ways to make life just a little bit easier. And then shape talking points that reflect what you’ve heard. Listen, reflect, respond…It should be obvious, but most establishment politicians aren’t great at this. People want to be heard, not told what they care about because of a beltway consultant’s focus group or poll. Some trends we saw that helped propel our red to blue candidates (now elected alums!) to victory: Affordable housing is a winning issue. While the national establishment is just catching up on this news, our local candidates have been beating this drum since they filed to run for office (and oftentimes, for years before they ran). Flip Republican-coded language on its head. Fiscal responsibility, accountability, students’ rights, budgeting with taxpayer dollars in mind, increased support for public safety are all threads found in most of these campaigns. How those policies showed up, however, were rooted in solutions, not aggrievement. As one candidate put it, “prevention, preparation, and compassion– not fear.” Transparency matters. As trust in politicians and government is at a national all-time low, local candidates inherently understood how tired people are of feeling like the government is not working for them – and bringing decisions, budgets, and policy conversations into the community in modernized ways was central to 90% of the campaigns that flipped seats. Honor the place. Whether born and raised or transplanted with intention, a love, respect, and understanding for the nature of the place, its history, and its people matters. People vote for people – and people want to have elected officials that genuinely feel like good neighbors. Lived experiences relevant to today’s needs are important. The candidates that represent RFS flipped seats have real and recent stories that connect to issues many in their communities may face – from growing up in public housing or with food assistance to being caregivers, losing parents, struggling with childcare – having the first person ability to connect the dots between real life and policy impacts resonates.
November 24, 2025 at 1:38 PM
amandalitman.bsky.social
An incredible @runforsomething.net alum in Utah who has served the community and is ready to fight for them. Let’s goooo
nateforutah.bsky.social Nate Blouin @nateforutah.bsky.social · 3d
We can’t keep doing politics as usual. Utahns struggle to pay for housing while Trump & the GOP Congress play games with our healthcare & victimize our communities. It’s time for Democrats who will stand up & speak truth to power. That’s why I’m running for Congress.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1usm...
Nate Blouin announces run for Congress
YouTube video by ABC4 Utah
www.youtube.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Reposted by Amanda Litman
choochoomama.bsky.social
@runforsomething.net is awesome and deserves our support!!
November 23, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Reposted by Amanda Litman
fisherjs.bsky.social
Help us build long term power with the best young candidates all over the country. 👇
November 22, 2025 at 8:58 PM
amandalitman.bsky.social
This is exciting: A generous @runforsomething.net supporter is matching all donations up to $300,000. If you've been waiting for the right time to give, your support will go twice as far. secure.actblue.com/donate/2025g...
Let's build sustainable power!
Run for Something elects young diverse progressives to local office to help Democrats build permanent power for the long haul — no matter who’s in the White House.
secure.actblue.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:57 PM
amandalitman.bsky.social
Fascinating/not surprising: People born in the 1990s are projected to have a ~10% lower homeownership rate than our parents. The more homeownership feels out of reach, the more we systematically shift behavior -- consume more, work less, & take on riskier investments. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
November 22, 2025 at 8:47 PM
amandalitman.bsky.social
Buried in this must-read story about the rise of billionaire power is the ex-chair of the DCCC saying the quiet part out loud: access to $$ was a core factor in their candidate recruitment.

Needless to say: This is not how @runforsomething.net operates!

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Former representative Cheri Bustos (Illinois), who headed House Democrats' campaign arm during the 2020 cycle, said an individual's money - or the ability to raise it - is a big factor when parties seek candidates for office. "Part of what you look at when you recruit is the ability to raise money," Bustos said. "It's not just being a self-funder, it's more: Do you have access to people who could make big contributions? Do you have those kinds of connections?"
November 22, 2025 at 12:07 PM