As a growing grass-roots organization that strives for genuine public service governance inclusive of all citizens, Rensselaer County Women for Change actively seeks out and encourages candidates for public office at all levels. The Endorsement Committee helps to promote candidates that mirror our organization’s fundamental values and core mission toward ethics, transparency and public service over politics.

If you are considering a run for public office, or are already a candidate, Rensselaer County Women for Change will certainly consider an endorsement of your candidacy, but encourages you to carefully review the following information so that your efforts in seeking our support are fully informed.

How Our Endorsement Can Help:

  • In general, it has been our policy to refrain from formally endorsing candidates in primaries. 

  • Rensselaer County Women for Change is not a non-profit 501(c)(3). This means we are free to publicly state our candidate preferences and openly work toward electing a given candidate.

  • We are not a Political Action Committee (PAC). This means we do not, as an organization, keep funds, collect dues, or directly make political contributions. Our endorsement can bring you name recognition among our considerable, ever-expanding membership, which consists of people who are grass-roots, neighborhood leaders, former and current local elected officials and much more. Our members are passionate, truly believe in our causes and are often willing to lend their unique talents toward those goals. 

  • Our individual members (if they choose and are able), may support our endorsed candidates through individual political donations and the sharing of your fundraising events.

  • Likewise, individual members (if they choose and are able), may help with canvassing, phone calls, post cards, door-to-door campaigning and hosting small gatherings to bolster campaign revenues.

Our Endorsement Process:

  • Please select the “Contact Us” tab on the website. Be sure to include your contact information, the office you are seeking, and where you are in the process of becoming a candidate. 

  • Once your request is received and vetted, the Endorsement Committee will reach out to arrange an interview (usually virtual).

  • The committee will ask some questions that are designed to establish your stance on key topics, help us to understand the people you are seeking to represent, and your impetus for seeking office. 

  • After you are interviewed, the committee shares your summarized interview with the group’s leadership and full membership, along with a recommendation.

  • You will be asked to briefly (virtually) attend the following monthly meeting of our group to meet & greet the larger membership, then leave the meeting so that your endorsement can be discussed and reviewed.

  • Notification of the group’s final determination would be provided as soon as possible after the meeting.

We hope this information is helpful. In 2025, Rensselaer County Women for Change endorsed over a dozen candidates for various offices. We look forward to continuing growing that number in our shared endeavors toward promoting leaders that work for the people.

Rensselaer County Women for Change is a volunteer group of positive and determined residents of Rensselaer County, New York. We seek and support environmental justice, protection of voting rights, and respect for marginalized members of our community - and demand integrity and transparency at all levels of government.