18 May How to Find a Mentor When You’re Thinking About Running for Office
The path from “I’ve been thinking about this” to “I filed my paperwork” is a lot shorter when you have someone walking beside you who has already made that journey. A good mentor does not just answer logistical questions — they help you see yourself as someone who belongs in public life.
If you are just beginning to consider running for office or getting more involved in public service, finding a mentor (or a few) is one of the most valuable things you can do.
Where to Start Looking
The best mentors are often closer than you think. Start by making a list of people in your life — your neighborhood, your congregation, your community, your workplace — who are actively involved in civic life and tend to know a lot of people. You are looking for connectors: people who understand how your community works.
“Learn somebody’s name who knows how your community works and go talk to them and let them mentor you.”
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— Sue Gong, Madbury Cemetery Trustee
Your city council member. A former school board candidate. A county commissioner. A neighbor who has chaired a planning commission. These are real people with real experience — and most of them would be genuinely glad to have coffee and talk about how it all works.
Do Not Count Anyone Out
You may be surprised who is willing to help. People who have served in elected office — including those from different parties, different backgrounds, or different levels of government — are often eager to support first-time candidates. The basic mechanics of campaigning, community outreach, and public service are largely transferable.
Even a mentor who ran for a different office in a different state can give you foundational guidance. But an ideal mentor is someone who has run for or served in the very office you are eyeing. They can answer hyper-specific questions:
- Where do you get the best-priced campaign signs locally?
- Who are the key community connectors in your district?
- What does a typical week look like in this role?
That kind of practical, on-the-ground knowledge is worth a great deal.
Ask for Advice — and Actually Listen
You cannot do this alone. The best candidates build relationships with people who know the terrain and are willing to be honest with them.
“Anytime I’ve even considered or thought of running for office, I called the people in my community who I trust…and have a conversation with them about it…If you’re interested in running, ask them for their advice…You cannot run for office alone.”
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— Karen Peterson, Utah State Representative
Do not wait until you have made a final decision to start these conversations. Reach out when you are still in the exploratory stage. People enjoy being consulted and their input may help you clarify both your thinking and your path forward.
Use Training Programs as a Mentorship Gateway
Formal candidate training programs are not just for information — they are also excellent places to meet mentors. Trainers, facilitators, panelists, and fellow attendees are all potential connections. Many trainers and alumni of these programs actively look for promising candidates to support.
Project Elect’s website has a list of national campaign training programs, and many states offer nonpartisan training programs as well. Show up. Introduce yourself. Be curious.
Let Project Elect Connect You
One of the most direct paths to finding a mentor is simply asking for one. Project Elect exists, in part, to make these connections happen — pairing women who are exploring public service with Latter-day Saint women who have already walked the path.
You do not have to figure this out by yourself. There is a network of women ready to share what they know, cheer you on, and open doors for you.
Reach out to Project Elect at projectelectwomen.org or through our JOIN US form — we would love to connect you with a mentor.
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