Project Overview
Following my time interning at the US Department of State in the UN Security Council and ECOSOC, I pursued my interests in government and social impact through a campaign and legislative internship with my US congressional representative, Debbie Dingell.
In this role, I authored reports on local events, politicians and social justice leaders for the congresswoman to keep her informed on the local politics and news within her district. Additionally, during the primary campaign season, I regularly canvassed for signatures in-person in order to ensure that Congresswoman Dingell would remain on the ballot. I was also tasked with organizing campaign events for the congresswoman, often collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver rewarding experiences at events for prospective voters.
What I Learned:
Democracy Depends on People
While this lesson may seem rudimentary, one of the things I learned and came to appreciate was just how difficult it is to organize a legitimate political campaign. As an intern, a cog in the machine, I was surprised at the breadth and depth of efforts ranging from technical to interpersonal that are required to elect a candidate to public office.
Why Incumbents Win
One of the advantages that I had in my role working for an incumbent was the political infrastructure already in-place from an incumbent candidate. Not only did Congresswoman Dingell have a well-oiled campaign machine, but she also had personal advantages in working with local media from years of relationship building. It helped me develop some insights into how it might be possible to one day challenge a sitting incumbent.
History is Always in Motion
Whether its the breakneck pace of the AI revolution, or the snails' pace of legislation, I learned that history is always, always, always in motion. It is up to us, the contemporaries of a given time, to seize upon that motion and to guide it towards fair, just and human-centered outcomes.