Amanda Litman
Amanda Litman | |
|---|---|
 Amanda Litman at Murmuration America at 250 event in 2026 | |
| Born | Amanda Litman 1990 (age 35–36)[1] |
| Education | Northwestern University (BA)[2] |
| Occupation | Political activist |
| Organization | Run for Something |
| Website | www |
Amanda Litman is an American writer and political organizer. She is the co-founder and president of Run for Something, a political action committee that recruits and supports young progressive candidates for down-ballot office, and the author of Run for Something: A Real-Talk Guide to Fixing the System Yourself (2017) and When We're in Charge: The Next Generation's Guide to Leadership (2025).[1] Before founding Run for Something in 2017, Litman worked as a digital strategist on Democratic campaigns, including as email director for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.[3][4] Litman has been recognized by Time, Bloomberg Businessweek, Politico, and Fortune for her work in progressive politics.[5][6][7][8] Her writing focuses on generational turnover in American political leadership and business leadership.[9]
Early life and education
[edit]Litman was raised in Fairfax, Virginia.[10][11] She is Jewish.[12] A defining moment in Litman's high school years came when she skipped class to hear Barack Obama speak at a local college. Her decision to attend Northwestern University, in Chicago, was driven by a desire to be near Obama's base of operations, with hopes of one day working for him.[11] She graduated from Northwestern in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree.[2]
Career
[edit]Litman began her career as an intern on Barack Obama's 2012 presidential campaign and was later hired as an email writer.[3] After the campaign, she worked as deputy email director for his nonprofit, Organizing for Action.[13] In 2014, she served as digital director for Charlie Crist's gubernatorial campaign,[13] and in 2016, she was national email director for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.[4]
Litman launched Run for Something on January 20, 2017 with cofounder Ross Morales Rocketto. The purpose of the organization is to recruit and support young candidates running for down-ballot office[14] As of 2025, a total of over 250,000 people have reached out to express interest in running for local races. About 25,000 of them have pursued office in 50 states and D.C.[15]
Litman is the author of two books: a guide to running for local office and a leadership book aimed at younger managers.[1] She writes a popular Substack chronicling her political views, book reading, and personal life.[16]
Personal life
[edit]Litman is married with two children. She lives in Brooklyn.[17][3]
Recognition
[edit]- Named to Politico's 50 list of the people most influencing American politics in 2018.[7]
- Named one of Bloomberg Businessweek's "Ones to Watch" in 2018.[6]
- Named to Fortune's 40 Under 40 list in 2020.[8]
- Named to Time's TIME100 Next list in 2022.[5]
- Named a Dial Fellow by the Emerson Collective in 2022.[18]
- Named a Obama Foundation USA Leader for 2025–2026.[19]
Selected publications
[edit]- Litman, Amanda (2017). Run for Something: A Real-Talk Guide to Fixing the System Yourself. Atria Books. ISBN 978-1501180446.
- Litman, Amanda (2025). When We're in Charge: The Next Generation's Guide to Leadership. Zando/Crooked Media Reads. ISBN 978-1638931928.
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Schnall, Marianne (May 13, 2025). "Interview: Amanda Litman Offers Advice For The Next Generation Of Leaders In Her New Book 'When We're In Charge'". Forbes. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- 1 2 Sarraf, Isabelle (February 26, 2020). "Weinberg alumna Amanda Litman talks helping young progressives run for office". The Daily Northwestern. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Mckesson, DeRay (June 10, 2025). Amanda Litman on the Future of Leadership. Pod Save the People. Crooked Media. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- 1 2 Liebman, Lisa (August 5, 2024). "How Amanda Litman Gets It Done". The Cut. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- 1 2 Clinton, Hillary Rodham (September 28, 2022). "Ross Morales Rocketto and Amanda Litman". Time. TIME100 Next. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- 1 2 "Amanda Litman". Bloomberg Businessweek. The Bloomberg 50: Ones to Watch. December 10, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - 1 2 "Amanda Litman". Politico Magazine. The Politico 50. 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- 1 2 "Amanda Litman". Fortune. 40 Under 40. 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- ↑ Caldwell, Sophie (May 22, 2025). "Millennial Founder's Best Career Advice for Gen Z: 'You Don't Get What You Don't Ask For'". CNBC. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- ↑ Lin, Ziqi (2017). "Ex-Clinton staffer to youth: 'Run for Something'". amNewYork. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- 1 2 Baldwin, Alec (May 12, 2026). Amanda Litman on Next Gen Leadership. Here's the Thing with Alec Baldwin. iHeartRadio. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- ↑ Oringel, Amy (July 14, 2017). "Meet Five Jewish Millennials Working To Fight The Trump Agenda". The Forward. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- 1 2 Caputo, Marc (June 12, 2014). "Meet Charlie Crist's New Campaign Team". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- ↑ Alter, Charlotte (October 10, 2017). "'You Have to Do Something.' Meet the 27-Year-Old Woman Teaching Millennials How to Run For Office". Time. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- ↑ Visram, Talib (October 2, 2025). "The Democratic Activist Building an Army of Zohran Mamdanis". Fast Company. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- ↑ Nguyen, Hao (March 17, 2026). Interview #110: How Amanda Litman Makes Money Writing. How I Make Money Writing. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- ↑ Ganesan, Meena (May 23, 2025). "Run for Something Cofounder on AOC, the Change to Rebuild, and the Next Generation's Call to Action". Vanity Fair. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Dial Fellowship Cohort 4 Talk: Amanda Litman". Emerson Collective. October 13, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Amanda Litman". The Obama Foundation. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
