Officials at the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics believe that U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst’s election will encourage more Iowa women to run for political office. 

If you’re one of them, the Catt Center at Iowa State University wants to help you achieve that goal.

Registration is now open for the 2015 Ready to Run campaign training for women, a statewide program hosted and organized by the center. The February session will feature workshops on Iowa politics and political parties as well as political appointments and advocacy.

In the morning workshop, participants will learn about research on women’s success in attaining public office in Iowa and the nation. Participants will learn about appointments to public boards and commissions in Iowa, as well as effective advocacy techniques for promoting an idea or issue during the afternoon session.

Elected and appointed officials will also share their experience and provide advice for those considering political office. Rep. Lisa Heddens, Johnston Mayor Paula Dierenfield, Linn County Supervisor Linda Langston and Deputy Secretary of State Carol Olson are among those confirmed to speak in February.   

Workshops scheduled for March 13 and April 24 will focus on launching a campaign, fundraising, website development, social media, crafting a stump speech and working with the media.

Kelly Winfrey, a lecturer at the Catt Center and former teacher at the Kansas Women’s Leadership Institute, said one program goal is simply to empower women.

“Women are less likely to consider running for office because they don’t see themselves as qualified,” she said. “Hopefully this will give them a guide to do that, figure out in what ways they want to be involved and realize they have the skills to do so.”

In 1998, the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University established Ready to Run: Campaign Training for Women to recruit and train women in New Jersey to run for all levels of office. In 2007, 45 women attended the Catt Center’s first Ready to Run event. Since then, the Iowa event has been held every other year, and more than 260 people have participated.

Winfrey said at least 24 women who attended past conferences have run for public office, and several have been appointed to boards and commissions. Among the women who took the course is Mariannette Miller-Meeks, former director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, who ran for Congress in Iowa’s 2nd District.

“Research shows that when viable female candidates run for office – and as more women hold office – it increases interest among other women in politics and makes them more likely to consider running as well,” Winfrey said. “Joni Ernst broke an important glass ceiling in Iowa politics, and this will likely affect Iowa women’s political interest and ambition.”

To register for the 2015 Ready to Run training, click here. For more information, contact the Catt Center at 515-294-3181 or cattcntr@iastate.edu.