Amanda Litman
Founder of Run for Something, reportedly approached about the DNC chair job
Amanda Litman (Founder of Run for Something, reportedly approached about the DNC chair job) has appeared as a guest on 1 episode in TMT. Topics they speak about most include Run for Something, 2026 United States Senate election in Michigan, 2026 United States Senate election in Maine.
In their words
Positions and remarks grouped by topic, each with the exact quote and where it was said.
Run for Something
Litman predicts the Democratic Party is nearing a tipping point where most of its leaders will be Run for Something alumni.
“I really do believe we are on the brink of a tipping point where the party is going to be more run for something alum than not”
Pod Save America: The Democratic Party's Civil War (Jul 19, 2026) · Listen from 55:28
Litman says new candidates in Trump's second term increasingly cite frustration with the Democratic Party as their reason for running.
“people explicitly saying, I am running for office because they are not going to fight for me. They have not delivered for me”
Pod Save America: The Democratic Party's Civil War (Jul 19, 2026) · Listen from 30:28
Litman says Run for Something has endorsed over 4,000 candidates and rescinded fewer than a dozen endorsements.
“running for something has endorsed more than 4,000 candidates over the last 10 years. I believe we've had to rescind fewer than a dozen of those endorsements”
Pod Save America: The Democratic Party's Civil War (Jul 19, 2026) · Listen from 7:40
2026 United States Senate election in Michigan
Litman says that, although Stevens is not the right candidate, much of the criticism of her has been sexist.
“a lot of the criticism of her about being unelectable or being a bad candidate is so sexist”
Pod Save America: The Democratic Party's Civil War (Jul 19, 2026) · Listen from 45:06
Litman argues the establishment has lost credibility on electability arguments.
“I think the establishment, quote unquote, has lost all credibility on that argument. They thought Joe Biden could win another term”
Pod Save America: The Democratic Party's Civil War (Jul 19, 2026) · Listen from 41:21
2026 United States Senate election in Maine
Litman argues Janet Mills's candidacy shows the establishment also got the Maine race wrong.
“So to say that this proves that the establishment always gets it right and the new people always get it wrong. No, this is villains on all sides here”
Pod Save America: The Democratic Party's Civil War (Jul 19, 2026) · Listen from 20:29
Litman is cautiously optimistic about Maine, citing Collins's and Trump's unpopularity.
“I am still cautiously optimistic. I mean, Maine is a state that voted for Kamala. Susan Collins is deeply unpopular. Trump is even more unpopular”
Pod Save America: The Democratic Party's Civil War (Jul 19, 2026) · Listen from 13:28
Candidate recruitment and vetting
Litman argues that people should not be persuaded to run for office but should be helped once they choose to.
“We should not convince people to run. We should open the door to them. And then if they say yes, help them walk through it”
Pod Save America: The Democratic Party's Civil War (Jul 19, 2026) · Listen from 4:28
Litman argues Platner's recruiters erred by trying to manufacture a candidate to fit a preset profile.
“What they did wrong is you cannot play Kingmaker and you really cannot play Mad Libs with candidate recruitment”
Pod Save America: The Democratic Party's Civil War (Jul 19, 2026) · Listen from 3:04
Campaign finance in the United States
Litman contrasts Run for Something's roughly $8 million budget with the Republican Leadership Institute's $50 million.
“Run for Something's budget is $8 million a year, just about. The Republican counterpart to Run for Something is called the Leadership Institute”
Pod Save America: The Democratic Party's Civil War (Jul 19, 2026) · Listen from 1:00:28
Gaza war
Litman urges activists to welcome Democrats who have come late to opposing aid to Israel rather than punishing them.
“The point of persuasion is to get people to agree with you”
Pod Save America: The Democratic Party's Civil War (Jul 19, 2026) · Listen from 52:05
American Israel Public Affairs Committee
Litman cites polling showing AIPAC is deeply unpopular with Michigan Democratic primary voters.
“AIPAC has a net negative 46 favorability rating. 78% of Michigan Democratic primary voters said they'd be less likely to”
Pod Save America: The Democratic Party's Civil War (Jul 19, 2026) · Listen from 48:03
Democratic Socialists of America
Litman attributes DSA's success to frustrated young voters seeking solutions and to DSA's organizing strength.
“I think also DSA has built some organizing muscle in a lot of these places, which should not be underrated”
Pod Save America: The Democratic Party's Civil War (Jul 19, 2026) · Listen from 26:26
Appearances
The Democratic Party's Civil WarPod Save America · Jul 19, 2026 · 1 h 6 min
Dan Pfeiffer and Run for Something's Amanda Litman discuss Graham Platner's Maine collapse, DSA's rise, the Michigan Senate primary, AIPAC spending, and down-ballot recruitment.
Discussed in
Trump Admits He's for He/Him, Not YouPod Save America · May 15, 2026 · 1 h 18 min
Jon Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer discuss Trump's remark about not thinking of Americans' finances, his IRS lawsuit settlement, redistricting, and the DNC's missing 2024 autopsy.
Often appears with
- Dan Pfeiffer · 1 shared episode