Gender on the Ballot June 2024

“Legislators at the state level routinely make decisions that affect women’s daily lives. While federal legislators may make decisions regarding massive budgets and foreign affairs, state legislators make daily decisions about childcare, local education, and more.”

The Keystone Press June 2026

“Caroline Welles, Executive Director of The First Ask, a PAC that aims to get progressive women elected to office, believes Shapiro is likely to be reelected over Republican candidate and current Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity. Both Shapiro and Garrity ran unopposed for their parties in the May 19 primaries.”

The Washington Times June 2026

“I’m not aware of a single school district or university that has adopted Title IX Month,” said Caroline Welles, a former Biden administration official who recruits women to run as Democrats for state legislatures. “The larger story is that the overwhelming majority of schools, colleges and corporate sponsors celebrated Pride Month this June just as they always have.”

NBC April 2026

Political strategist Caroline Welles, who works to elect first-time Democratic women to state legislatures, said the decision mattered less for November than for what it signals about the court's willingness to let states dilute minority voting power. 

"Voting rights litigation has been the main way to challenge rigged maps since 2013. If that tool gets blunted, Democrats are looking at structural disadvantages that feel insurmountable," she said. 

"Communities of color will continue to be systematically underrepresented in the places where they have the numbers to elect candidates of their choice."

The Mirror Feb 2026

"While Trump has traditionally been seen as the best messenger for these points, he has clearly lost his ability to connect to everyday Americans," she said. "Instead, the speech leaned heavily on culture war framing and backward-looking accomplishments. This was a tactical choice that may energize the base but will not convince any undecided voters."

The Strait Times April 2026

“Party strategist Caroline Welles, who works to elect first-time Democratic women to state legislatures, said the 13-point swing from 2024 margins across special elections is ‘reason for us to feel bullish.’

AP April 2026

Welles, executive director of The First Ask, an organization that supports first-time female candidates at the state level, said the reason why Latino representation is more visible at the local level is because those leaders are able to built trust with their community much easier given their proximity…

Newsweek March 2026

Caroline Welles, a Democratic strategist, founder of The First Ask, a national organization supporting Democratic women running for state legislature, told Newsweek: "The Rodrigo moment is a small example of a larger trend: she made Filipino food for a Vogue segment, celebrating her heritage, and got labeled a "trad wife." That says everything about the interpretive lens being applied to young women right now and nothing about Olivia Rodrigo."