Apply for the LEAP Cohort

The ideal LEAP fellow is a mid-career election professional, typically with a decade or more of experience, who is ready to move from operating elections to helping shape the profession. They are “rooted but reaching”: solid in their current role yet eager to expand their impact and connect their local expertise to the national conversation. 

LEAP prioritizes developing people of color but is inclusive of all mid-career professionals who recognize that traditional paths to high-level visibility are often gatekept and are seeking both validation of their experience and the “hidden curriculum” needed to navigate institutional barriers and claim real authority in a field that has lacked diverse leadership. 

This candidate is a disciplined, collaborative learner who values high-touch in-person summits and is also prepared to stay engaged through remote sessions that offer direct access to veteran field leaders, diverse leadership pathways, and concrete opportunities. 

By the end of the program, LEAP fellows emerge as intentional networkers who see visibility as a form of resource access, with the social capital and clarity to influence the field and navigate the next phase of their professional journey across the election administration landscape.

The 2027 LEAP cohort runs from March 2027 to March 2028, combining four in-person weekend summits with virtual sessions in between. It is designed around the realities of election work: deep connection when you can step away, and focused support when you are in the thick of your calendar.