Endorsement Process

Eligibility

Who is the “Mama” in Vote Mama?

Mamas are self-identified. Mamas can be cis women, trans women, or non-binary and gender non-conforming people. Mamas are primary caregivers for biological children, foster children, step children, and formally or informally adopted children under the age of 18, or children of any age with a disability. Mamas are committed to progressive values and passing legislation that works for ALL families.

Who does Vote Mama support and why?

Vote Mama PAC endorses candidates for federal and statewide office, candidates running for local office and school board, and candidates running for the state legislature. In 2026, we are giving special priority to state legislative candidates running for office in the battleground states of AZ, GA, MI, NC, NV, PA, and WI, as well as state legislative candidates runnig in special elections. However, if your race does not fall under one of these priority states, you are still welcome to apply (as long as you meet our other eligibility criteria). We evaluate and measure a campaign’s viability based on campaign strategy and progress to-date, as well as the candidate’s personal narrative and reason for running, seat importance, and gaining political power in order to make policy changes.

What policies do the Mamas endorsed by Vote Mama support?

All Vote Mama candidates must support our candidate pledge that ensures their commitment to advancing truly family-friendly policies on the campaign trail and once elected.

Candidate Pledge

Vote Mama candidates believe in building a future where moms have political power to lead with equity, justice, and compassion. Our candidates work to adopt policy solutions to address the most pressing challenges working families face. When moms are represented, caregiving is valued, and children and families are at the forefront of policy making decisions. Electing Democratic moms is how we build a better future.

Vote Mama endorsed candidates agree to the following:

We stand for freedom to make personal healthcare decisions without government interference. This includes access to abortion, birth control, maternal healthcare, and reproductive care.

We support strong families by passing policies that include paid family leave, universal childcare, and pay equality, because caregiving is essential and every family deserves economic security.

We believe healthcare is a human right. We support policies that expand affordable, high-quality healthcare for all families, with a focus on protecting and expanding Medicaid, lowering prescription drug costs, and strengthening maternal and mental healthcare. We believe that every American should have access to healthcare coverage without the stress of affordability or medical debt.

We know that quality education is a right, beginning in early childhood. We are committed to fully funding public education, standing against censorship, and supporting inclusive practices that address disparities in our schools and communities.

We value safety—in our homes, schools, and neighborhoods. That’s why we support common-sense gun reforms, including universal background checks and banning assault weapons.

We stand firmly in the belief of equality for all people, including support for the LGBTQ+ community and the protection of gender-affirming care.

We lead with a commitment to anti-racism and advocate for policies that actively confront and dismantle systemic inequities.

We support immigration policies that keep families together and promote dignity, safety, and opportunity for all.

We believe in climate justice and the fundamental right to clean air and water, and we support strong environmental protections to safeguard our planet for future generations.

We defend democracy by protecting the right to vote and making the electoral process fair, secure, and accessible—because a healthy democracy ensures that everyone has a voice and a vote.​

Questionnaire & Endorsement Process

To seek our endorsement, please fill out our online questionnaire. Once it is submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive confirmation, please try again, or email us at info@votemama.org.

Our political team evaluates questionnaires on a rolling basis. If you meet our eligibility criteria, you may be invited to participate in a 30-minute endorsement interview, during which we will get to know you, why you are running, your campaign strategy including fundraising and voter outreach efforts, and how you are making your campaign family friendly.

In 2026, Vote Mama’s endorsement questionnaire will be open from January to August, and we will make endorsements throughout the year as capacity allows, generally on a quarterly basis. If you would like more information about our endorsement or timeline, or to check on the status of your application, please email us at info@votemama.org. ​