Political Research & Candidate Engagement Intern
About Us
Purple Alliance is the civic platform behind I See Purple, a movement focused on restoring balance and accountability in American politics.
More than 100 candidates from across the political spectrum have already adopted the Purple Pledge — a commitment to principled, balanced leadership and the democratic values that have long united Americans despite their policy differences.
We are working to expand that network and increase the number of Purple candidates appearing on ballots across the country in the 2026 election cycle.
Position Overview
We are seeking a Political Research & Candidate Engagement Intern to help identify, track, engage, and support candidates who may align with the principles of the Purple Pledge.
This is a hands-on opportunity to work directly with election data, candidate research, campaign outreach, and state-level political strategy. You will work closely with the founder and gain exposure to the operational side of building a national civic movement.
This is a ground-floor opportunity to join an organization at an early stage of growth. Strong contributors may have opportunities to continue growing with Purple Alliance as the organization expands.
What You'll Do
- Depending on your interests, strengths, and availability, you may help with:
- Researching candidates running for federal and statewide office
- Identifying opportunities to expand Purple Pledge participation
- Compiling and organizing candidate information from official election sources
- Supporting candidate outreach and follow-up efforts
- Tracking election developments, filing deadlines, and primary results
- Maintaining state-by-state status reports and outreach tracking
- Conducting research on candidates, races, and political trends
- Helping identify opportunities to increase the visibility of Purple candidates
What Success Looks Like
By the end of this internship, you will have contributed to expanding the network of Purple candidates seeking office in the 2026 election cycle.
Your work will help ensure that voters have more opportunities to identify and support candidates who are committed to democratic norms, ethical leadership, and principled governance.
Successful candidates will not simply manage spreadsheets or conduct research—they will help put more Purple candidates on ballots across America.
Skills We're Looking For
Successful candidates will likely demonstrate some combination of the following:
- Research and information gathering
- Attention to detail
- Written communication
- Data organization
- Political analysis
- Critical thinking
- Project coordination
- Initiative and self-motivation
- Interest in elections, public policy, or civic engagement
You do not need to possess every skill listed above to apply.
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred majors include:
- Political Science & Government
- Public Policy
- Public Administration
- History
- International Relations
- Related fields
We are especially interested in candidates who:
- Enjoy research and investigative work
- Are highly organized and enjoy managing detailed information accurately across multiple projects
- Have an interest in elections, campaigns, or public policy
- Are comfortable working independently
- Are interested in helping build a national civic movement
- Have experience working with spreadsheets, databases, or structured data (a plus)
Prior internship experience is not required.
Time Commitment
- Remote position
- Flexible schedule
- Approximately 5–15 hours per week, with opportunities for additional involvement based on interest, availability, and project needs
- Summer and/or Fall 2026
Academic credit may be available through your institution.
Application Questions
- Why does the mission of I See Purple resonate with you?
- Describe a research project, academic project, or organizational task that required attention to detail and persistence.
- What interests you most about elections, campaigns, public policy, or civic engagement?