As California transitions from the June 2 primary, California Policy Center is pleased to offer a special nonpartisan leadership workshop for local elected officials, candidates, and grassroots advocates preparing for the November 2026 general election.

Please join us in Bakersfield on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at California Policy Center’s Liberty Center for an intensive training designed for both new and experienced candidates and community leaders alike, followed by a special reception from 7:00–8:00 p.m. to connect with fellow attendees.

Led by seasoned campaign professionals, participants will receive practical training in three key areas:

Candidate Academy: Discover what it takes to run and win an effective, compliant campaign for local office.

Fundraising Bootcamp: Gain step-by-step fundraising strategies you can put to work immediately, along with proven tools to expand your network and grow your donor base.

Grassroots Strategies: Build the skills needed to organize and lead effective grassroots campaigns in support of the issues and candidates you care about.

Meet Your Instructors

Our California Policy Center (CPC) team brings decades of experience in campaign, fundraising, and grassroots strategy.

Mari Barke, Director of Coalitions
Mari Barke is CPC’s Director of Coalitions, where where she leads coalition-building efforts for both California Local Elected Officials (CLEO) and Parent Union. She is also President of the Orange County Board of Education. Mari produced three virtual trainings for local elected officials along with CPC’s Lance Christensen, and the duo regularly join forces to provide in-person trainings to potential candidates and local leaders throughout the state. Mari serves on the California Republican Party’s executive board as South Vice Chair.

Haiden Drake, Central Valley Director
Haiden Drake was born and raised in Bakersfield, CA. He has served on a number of congressional, state legislative, and local campaigns, focusing on messaging, strategy, field operations, and grassroots organizing. He later co-founded RCS, a political consulting firm with other Central Valley strategists that works on campaigns at all levels, including the elections of Congressman David Valadao and Assemblymember David Tangipa. Most recently, Haiden served as Campaign Manager for Suzette Martinez Valladares’ State Senate campaign.

Jackson Reese, President
Jackson Reese leads CPC’s strategy, operations, and development. Jackson develops and oversees CPC’s digital outreach strategy and regularly advises nonprofit leaders nationwide on donor engagement, fundraising, and audience growth. He has consulted on over two dozen political campaigns and has partnered with charter schools throughout the state to run digital enrollment campaigns.

Lance Christensen, Vice President of Government Affairs
Lance Christensen brings two decades of public policy and political experience as CPC’s Vice President of Government Affairs and Education Policy. He was a candidate for California Superintendent of Public Instruction on the November 2022 statewide ballot. He previously served as a legislative consultant in the California State Senate, a finance budget analyst at the Department of Finance, and chief of staff and senior policy advisor to former California State Senator John Moorlach.