New Down-Ballot Research Underscores Challenges Facing Candidates, Gaps in Electoral Ecosystem
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New Down-Ballot Research Underscores Challenges Facing Candidates, Gaps in Electoral Ecosystem
Largest survey of progressive state and local candidates highlights urgent needs around funding, safety, and support for a new generation of women, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC leaders
WASHINGTON, DC—New research from the Pipeline Fund offers an unprecedented look at the lived experience of nearly 1,000 progressive candidates who ran for office in 2024 – most of them women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and working-class leaders. The Pipeline Fund’s 2024 Candidate Survey, conducted in partnership with Hart Research, is the largest known national survey of down-ballot progressive candidates. The report captures not only data, but a deeper understanding of what it takes to run – and keep running – in today’s political climate, especially without institutional support.
To read the memo on the findings, click here.
The research reveals the resilience behind a powerful wave of emerging leaders who are stepping up to meet critical challenges facing American democracy, but also highlights systemic barriers these candidates face in trying to run for office.
“We’re seeing a new generation of progressive talent rise to meet this moment – but the infrastructure simply hasn’t caught up. It shouldn’t take going into debt, risking your safety, or burning out to serve your community,” said Denise Feriozzi, Co-Founder and Executive Director at the Pipeline Fund. “We cannot leave our most promising leaders to fend for themselves. It’s time to reallocate power, resources, and attention to where they’re most urgently needed: at the state and local level.”
Key findings from the survey include:
- New candidates are stepping up, but the infrastructure to support them isn’t there.
82% of respondents were first-time candidates in 2024, and nearly half ran in GOP-held or GOP-leaning districts, often without institutional party backing. Among first-time candidates, 58% said they lacked the support they needed to run effectively.
- The cost of running is taking a toll, and not just financially.
Only 23% said they received help raising money. More than 60% experienced harassment, and 1 in 5 avoided campaigning alone out of fear for their safety. Among candidates under 40, 40% sought therapy to cope with the emotional toll.
- Women – especially women of color – faced unique barriers.
Women were more likely than men to report harassment, and 44% of women of color said they avoided door-knocking alone. Mothers under 50 were among the most likely to experience threats.
- Despite it all, these candidates want to run again.
While 38% of all candidates surveyed won their races, 41% of those who lost said they plan to run again, including 60% of candidates under 40, 58% of LGBTQ+ candidates, and 58% of candidates of color. These groups also received the least financial support.
“I ran for office because I was tired of seeing my diverse, working-class district represented by someone who only serves the wealthy and his own interests. I’m a single mom, a first-generation Korean American, and I came within a few points of flipping this seat – even after facing racist attacks and being afraid to knock doors alone,” said Michelle Kang, candidate for Georgia State House District 99. “I’m proud that we came so close in 2024, and I’m doing it again in 2026. But the reality is, candidates like me can’t do this alone. We need early investment, real coordination, and more resources that prioritize local elections. Local lawmakers shape the policies and programs that impact our daily lives – yet they’re too often overlooked. Building lasting power starts at the local level.“
The report comes in the aftermath of an election cycle where Democratic third party entities spent more than $1 billion on Congressional races alone – while those running for school board, city council, and state legislature often scrape by with minimal resources.
“The talent, will, and expertise is there, but we’re lacking the investment to build and sustain the long-term infrastructure needed to win at scale,” said Nilofar Ganjaie, Chief Program Officer at the Pipeline Fund. “The next generation of candidates are ready to run for and serve in office, yet they’re the ones we invest in the least. That has to change.”
The Pipeline Fund’s work brings together a growing network of state-based partners, alongside leading national organizations like EMILYs List, Run for Something, National Democratic Training Committee and LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. Together they are building a sustainable pipeline of reflective, local leadership ready to govern in red, blue, and purple communities alike.
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About the Pipeline Fund:
The Pipeline Fund is working toward a reflective democracy where skilled, diverse, community leaders are fully supported to run for office, run campaigns, and advance progressive policies that address the urgent needs of all Americans. Learn more at https://www.pipeline.fund/.
