Washington, D.C. (August 22, 2024) – The Women & Politics Institute (WPI) at American University’s School of Public Affairs (SPA) announced that it will now exclusively operate the non-partisan project, Gender on The Ballot, and house the Foundation’s governor’s research archives, supported with a $500,000 from the Barbara Lee Family Foundation (BLFF). Originally co-founded by WPI and BLFF in 2019, Gender on the Ballot, explores and contextualizes gender dynamics in U.S. elections. 

This transition follows BLFF’s announcement earlier this year that it will wind down its operations by December 2024. The transfer agreement ensures the continuation of Gender on the Ballot under WPI’s stewardship.  In addition, WPI and American University will now catalogue and house BLFF’s archives of more than 25 years of research on women gubernatorial candidates. These valuable documents include transcripts of post-election interviews with female candidates and their top campaign staff, offering a historical record of every major party general election campaign for governor with a female candidate since 1998. 

“We are so proud of the important work our team did with the Women & Politics Institute over the last five years through Gender on the Ballot,” said Barbara Lee, President and Founder of BLFF. “I am thrilled that our governors research will live on under WPI—academics and students will benefit from the research for years to come!  I am grateful for their strong programming that encourages and explores women’s leadership.”

WPI will also manage the Gender on the Ballot website which offers resources for a wide audience, from casual observers to political pundits.  The site features timely analysis and commentary from academic scholars, political strategists, and practitioners along with public opinion polling data to frame the conversation about gender in U.S. elections. Like WPI’s WeLead Campaign Training Program, which prepares young professional women to run for elective office, Gender on the Ballot will remain an extension of WPI’s mission to close the gender gap in political leadership.

“We are delighted to have Gender on the Ballot and BLFF’s invaluable gubernatorial research as part of our institute,” said WPI Executive Director Betsy Fischer Martin. “We are grateful to Barbara Lee and her Foundation for the generous support and longstanding partnership in fostering a national dialogue on gender and politics. Barbara Lee’s personal dedication to the advancement of women in politics has left a lasting impact on countless women leaders across the country.  We look forward to making this critical research available to our students and other scholars studying the importance of women’s representation in our political system.”

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About the Women & Politics Institute at AU’s School of Public Affairs
Founded in 2000, SPA’s Women & Politics Institute is dedicated to closing the gender gap in political leadership. WPI provides academic and practical campaign training that encourages young women to engage in the political process. The institute also facilitates research by faculty and students that enhances our understanding of the challenges and opportunities women face in the political arena.

About American University School of Public Affairs
Established in 1934, American University's School of Public Affairs (SPA) is ranked No.13 in the nation (and first in the D.C. area) by U.S. News & World Report, offering undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and executive-level programs to build and enhance careers in public service. The school offers a unique pairing of access to Washington, D.C. with world-renowned faculty and transformational research, driving progress in policy, politics, law, and public administration. SPA is also ranked third in the U.S. and first in the D.C. area for public affairs research impact.