Elevate 2026
Thinking about running for local office? Start here.
The Elevate Academy Primer is a condensed, virtual training series for people who are considering a run for city or county office in 2026 and want a clear, realistic understanding of what that takes.
It’s a laser-focused, three-night series covering the essentials of running for local office — plus a personalized one-on-one consultation with Elevate Academy leadership.
If you’ve ever thought:
“Someone should step up… maybe it’s me.”
“I care about my community, but I don’t know where to start.”
“I want to understand what running would actually involve before making a decision.”
This Primer is designed for you!
All sessions are live and virtual via Zoom.
Group Sessions:
March 17
March 24
March 31
6:00–7:30 PM CST
Plus: One individualized consultation scheduled after the group sessions.
You don’t need political experience.
You don’t need a perfect resume.
You just need a desire to serve your community and a willingness to explore the possibility.
Space is intentionally limited to keep the cohort small and meaningful.
If you’re ready to explore what leadership could look like for you, fill out the interest form today.
This might be the moment you decide to step forward.
What You’ll Learn
Across three interactive Zoom sessions, we’ll cover the building blocks of a local campaign:
How local elections work and what it takes to get on the ballot
The basics of building a campaign message and telling your story
How to organize volunteers and mobilize community support
Practical strategies for connecting with voters
The fundamentals of fundraising and creating a realistic campaign budget
You’ll also hear directly from a local elected leader and Elevate graduate about what serving in office really looks like.
Participants will also receive a private one-on-one consultation with Elevate Academy leadership to:
Talk through your specific situation
Assess your readiness
Ask candid questions
Get honest feedback
Clarify next steps
The goal isn’t pressure. It’s clarity.
What We Accomplished in 2025
This year’s Legislative Leadership Lab brought together a dynamic cohort of emerging advocates from across the region. Kicking off in January, participants built community and gained foundational knowledge of the legislative process, bill tracking, and advocacy strategy. February deepened those skills with workshops on effective testimony, storytelling, and community mobilization. In March, participants traveled to the Capitol for an immersive day of legislative engagement and one-on-one mentorship. April focused on long-term advocacy planning, relationship-building with elected officials, and preparing for future leadership opportunities. With ongoing support and collaboration, this year’s cohort emerged more confident, connected, and ready to lead change in their communities. The feedback about the program was positive and Prairie Leadership Partners hopes to offer the Legislative Leadership Lab during the next legislative session in 2027.
Elevate 2025 Recap!
Elevate Academy 2025 had a large cohort of participants from across the state. The participants trained new leaders on issue based advocacy and preparation to run for office. The program was held in Fargo in October 17-19, 2025.
The participants took with them tools, skills, and a stronger network to launch campaigns or lead effective advocacy efforts in their communities.
Since the training multiple participants have announced candidacies for local office, while other have take on leadership roles in issue-based campaigns across the state.
“Thank you for this incredible training, it was a great place to energize organizers and potential candidates. It was fun to network and meet new people outside of my current connections, while sharpening my skills. Thank you for all of your hard work!”
Shay T., Minot
“It was tough to pick one session that had the biggest impact, so I would say that it was the collective learning from all sessions and the connections with others that made the biggest difference for me.”
Tyler S., Fargo
