Are You Interested in Running for Office?

As natural leaders in their communities, Realtors® are exceptionally qualified to hold office on all levels of government which is why we’ve held (in-person and virtual) National Association of Realtors®’ Candidate Training Academy. This training offers invaluable information to members on the ins and outs of running for elected office.

Women face challenges when it comes to running for political office. While it is shown when women run, they win at the same rates as men, it takes an average of six times for a woman to be asked to run before ultimately decide to run for office. This is often due to work-life balance, the lack of monetary support, and the lack of proper support from party leaders, activists, and elected officials.

As the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg once said, “women belong in all places where decisions are being made.

Here at NJ Realtors®, we are proud to have women serving in leadership positions on the state and local levels. In fact, according to the 2019 Member Profile, 66 percent of our membership is female. Recently, we conducted a membership poll pertaining to independent contractor status. The results affirmed the uniqueness of the real estate industry because, as independent contractors, members have control over their work schedules and earnings. It is with this in mind that we will be hosting a candidate training tailored for women this October. The training will be a four-part virtual series on Oct. 6, 13, 20 and 27, and attendees can participate in all sessions or attend just one or two. The sessions will include presentations from experts, and discussions with peers. The sessions will cover the realities of running for office, political fundraising, developing a campaign plan, and the truths of serving in office. Our goal is to build a support system of women to learn and ask questions from experts or peers who know exactly what they’re experiencing. I hope we can be seen as a vital tool in assisting Realtors® in deciding whether they want to run for political office.

Please keep an eye on your email for additional information on this training, we will share it when it becomes available. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our Director of Government Affairs Catherine Best at cbest@njrealtor.com.

This training will be geared toward women, but all members are welcome.