March 4, 2025

We’re excited to announce that U.S. Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) will headline a keynote conversation at Ready to Run® NJ (March 21-22, 2025). Their discussion will focus on leadership, resilience, and navigating the challenges of public office. U.S. Representatives Watson Coleman and McIver make up half of the record-breaking delegation of four women currently representing New Jersey in the U.S. Congress, the largest number of women to ever serve simultaneously from the Garden State.

In addition to the keynote, you’ll hear from State Senators Renee C. Burgess and Angela McKnight as well as Assemblymembers Shama Haider, Carmen T. Morales, and Tennille McCoy. Other notable speakers include Karen Finney, CNN political commentator and spokesperson for the Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign; Tara Dowdell, digital strategies expert; and Eva Pusateri, seasoned communications expert. 

Don’t miss your chance to learn from these influential leaders, and many more, as you prepare for the next stage in your political journey or public leadership career during Ready to Run® NJ.

Time is running out to apply for CAWP’s Susan N. Wilson NEW Leadership® New Jersey, a five-day residential summer institute at Rutgers–New Brunswick (June 13-17, 2025). This immersive program equips undergraduate students with the skills, connections, and confidence to become leaders in public service. Participants will engage with women leaders, practice public speaking and networking, and spend a day in Trenton learning firsthand about state government.

⏳ Application Deadline: March 14, 2025

📅 Dates: June 13-17, 2025

📍 Location: Rutgers University–New Brunswick, NJ

💲 Cost: FREE for Students

📧 Contact: Emily Dalton at emily.dalton@eagleton.rutgers.edu

Do you know a college student looking to take their leadership journey from college campus to the capitol? Spread the word.

The 2025 Ruth B. Mandel Dissertation Research Awards are open for applications! These awards – established in honor of CAWP co-founder and director Ruth B. Mandel and made possible thanks to the generosity of Ruth's family – support dissertation research on women, gender, and U.S. politics.

We will award up to four awards, with the expectation that at least one award will be designated for a Rutgers University student. These awards, which will be $2,000/each in value, will support dissertation research on women, gender, and U.S. politics. Eligible recipients include advanced doctoral students from any relevant discipline at U.S.-based institutions who have successfully defended their dissertation proposal. We encourage applications from scholars who are traditionally underrepresented in the academy.

Applying early is encouraged! The deadline is May 15, 2025.

Political contributions shape elections, yet the donor pool does not reflect the diversity of the U.S. population. CAWP Senior Scholar Kira Sanbonmatsu discusses her new research titled “Understanding Black Women's and Latinas' Perspectives about Political Giving” in an analysis posted on London School of Economics and Political Science's United States Politics and Policy blog. Sanbonmatsu examines why Black women and Latinas contribute significantly less to political candidates than other groups, shedding light on the social norms and structural barriers that shape political giving. The research finds that while voting and charitable donations are widely recognized as civic duties, donating to political candidates is less socially valued among Black women and Latinas. This impacts representation, as campaign donors help determine who runs for office and who wins.

Learn more and read the full analysis here.

Women’s History Month is here, and we’re dedicating this time to telling the stories of the women trailblazers in American politics. All month long on social media, we’ll be sharing their stories of resilience and celebrating milestones that changed the course of history. Follow along (and help us amplify by sharing!) as we highlight the women who built this road, brick by brick.

• Instagram: @WomenAndPolitics
• Facebook: @WomenAndPolitics
• Bluesky: @CAWP_RU.bsky.social