HOOD RIVER, OR -- Women running for office across Oregon gather in Hood River Thursday for a training designed to help them campaign more effectively. The event is hosted by the nonprofit Vote, Run Lead Action. Oregon Director Becca Phelps says, "Women govern better." She knows that's a bold statement, but she says data backs up her claim: "We bring home more resources to our communities, historically speaking, when we're in a state legislative role. We collaborate at a deeper level than men, so we're able to work across the aisle in nonpartisan and bipartisan situations."

While more women are running for office, Phelps says they face different challenges than their male counterparts, including what she calls the Confidence Gap, "We know that males run for office at a higher rate than women. Males also run when they think they're qualified - maybe it's this 70-75% number, but they'll do it anyway. Where women, it takes us a lot longer to say, 'we think we're ready.'" However, when a man and woman run for an open seat, she says the genders win at equal rates. 

Phelps says her organization provides that boost in confidence and networking opportunities, "We recruit and train women and gender-expansive folks to run for office and win." The nonprofit will work Thursday with candidates and campaign staffers,  "To coach, to train women, to hear from women about what they need and how running for office is going, because we know historically women don't feel supported running for office." That support isn't only necessary for getting into office. She says it's also important for staying there, "There are a number of times, especially here in Oregon, where women have gotten elected, but they'll serve for one term. So, they will drop out because of pay issues; they'll drop out because of lack of access to the healthcare, the childcare piece, as well."

Vote, Run, Lead Action is a nonpartisan organization, which Phelps says allows the nonprofit to work beyond policy and reach the next generation of candidates and voters, "People are leaving their party and becoming not just Independent, that's their own party, but non-affiliated, not associated with any party." Her overall goal is for the Legislature and other governmental bodies to reflect the gender makeup of the state. Phelps says Oregon is close, but more work is needed. About half of the population is female, and women make up about 30% of the State Senate and 46% of the State House.