Future Leaders Program

Internships at The First Ask

Empowering the next generation of political strategists, advocates, and changemakers through immersive hands-on experience in the heart of public service.

Spring 2026 Interns

Washington D.C. Cohort

Political Strategy Intern

Olivia McDowell

Olivia joins us from Georgetown University, where she is finishing her degree in Public Policy. Passionate about equitable representation, she assists our candidate relations team in identifying emerging leaders in underrepresented districts. Her focus on data-driven advocacy has already provided invaluable insights for our 2026 roadmap.

Kelly Granger

Kelly is a senior at American University specializing in Political Communications. At The First Ask, she manages our digital storytelling initiatives, ensuring our candidates' voices resonate across platforms. Her keen eye for editorial design and narrative structure has elevated our recent outreach campaigns.

Communications & Media Intern

Hear from our former interns!

“ I had a wonderful experience working with The First Ask! I was very anxious before starting, as this job was my first internship, but Caroline and Eleanor’s guidance proved to me that I had nothing to be nervous about. Doing work that had a real impact in campaigns within my home state was an incredible experience, and it reaffirmed that advocacy is the field I want to go into. The skills and knowledge I have retained from my semester with The First Ask will without a doubt help me in my future career.”

'I absolutely loved my experience. It was such a great way to meet people in the industry and get hands-on experience with real-world political strategy.'

— Sarah Jenkins, Fall '24

'My time as an intern with The First Ask was truly everything I hoped for. I was given real responsibilities and my input was always valued in high-stakes meetings.'

— Elena Rodriguez, Spring '25

'I had a wonderful experience working with the team. The mentorship I received was unparalleled, and it truly shaped my career path in advocacy.'


— Marcus Chen, Summer '25

'My time with The First Ask is truly everything. It's more than just a line on a resume; it's a community of dedicated public servants.'

— David Okafor, Fall '25