We Back the Leaders Who Already Answered the Call
Most of politics is looking for candidates. We're looking for leaders.
They're veterans, teachers, first responders — people who came up through the military, AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, through classrooms and platoons, fire stations and federal courtrooms. Different paths, one thing in common: they gave years to something larger than themselves before they ever thought about running.
Leadership is something you demonstrate before you ever ask for a vote. For too long, our politics has drifted from that standard — and made it hard for people with the right character and values to run and win.
We've spent more than a decade proving there's another way — backing servant leaders from their first races to the offices they hold today.
Because this was never about a single race, or a map of wins. It's about reestablishing a culture in our politics that puts service at the center — and that starts with who runs, and who wins. A decade in, the work comes down to a mission and a vision.
Become Transformative Political Leaders
We do this by finding, advising, and electing those who already served their communities and country and helping them serve again — this time through politics.
Rather than prioritizing personal goals like retaining power, avoiding criticism, or appeasing interest groups, we envision a political system that is led by people focused on service to a cause larger than self, not power to a select few.
Our Criteria for Great Leaders
They come up through service — the military, the classroom, the firehouse, the frontlines of their communities. But a service record alone isn't what we're after. For us, it comes down to three things.
MISSION
Service over self. They've given years to something larger than their own ambition, and they carry that same purpose into why they run.
CHARACTER
Integrity, courage, and empathy, proven under real pressure. The kind of judgment you only earn by being tested.
AGENCY
A relentless drive to get things done. They don't wait for permission or perfect conditions — they move toward the problem and bring people with them.
Our Impact
Over more than a decade, we've backed hundreds of campaigns — and the leaders we found before anyone was watching now serve at every level, from city halls and statehouses to Congress and governors' mansions. Leaders with a record of service keep winning races the political world wrote off.
Mikie Sherrill
James Talarico
Pat Ryan
Elissa Slotkin
David Crowle
Abigail Spanberger
More About New Politics
This was never only about winning races. It's about returning politics to servant leadership — and we've never been more convinced the leaders we need are out there. However you came to New Politics, here's where to look next.
Our History
Where this started: the fracture in our politics, and the bet Emily Cherniack made in 2013 to fix it.
What We Do
How the work runs: we find leaders early, help them launch, and stay with them — school board to the U.S. Capitol.
