We have undoubtedly witnessed record-breaking years with more women running for office than we’ve seen in American history. We hope to see this trend continue to grow with women picking up the mantle in their communities by continuing to seek elected office and becoming important assets to their local government. "Step Up to Run – Women Shaping the Future of Politics and Public Policy" is a collaborative, non-fiction book that comes from a perspective we don’t often see in the realm of political nonfiction: the book recounts the stories of five women, from diverse backgrounds and communities across the state of California, who made the leap to run in 2018, but who came up short of winning in their respective races. Although their campaigns weren’t marked victorious by the election results, their uplifting stories will inspire readers and serve as a resource for women across the state and the country who are considering running.