Legislative Intern

Legislative Intern 

Semester: Spring (February-May 2026)

Status: Part-time Temporary (15-25 hours per week)
Reports to: Senior Legislative Associate

Stipend: $18.00 per hour 

Location: Washington, DC Required

Apply Here

ORGANIZATION

Issue One is a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization that unites Republicans, Democrats, and independents to win game-changing federal reforms to fix our broken political system and create an inclusive democracy that works for everyone. Issue One educates the public and Congress to pass legislation to increase transparency, strengthen government ethics and accountability, reduce the influence of big money in politics, protect the freedom to vote, and strengthen U.S. elections.

POSITION

Issue One seeks a spring intern interested in strengthening American democracy and assisting our high-performing legislative team. Like the rest of our staff, we would like to hire an intern who can think strategically, be versatile, and be open-minded.

Our interns are integral members of Issue One. We are a small but growing office where you will gain hands-on experience in bipartisan outreach and advocacy, communications and messaging tactics, legislative affairs, working with current and former elected officials, and much more. We also work closely with other reform organizations and will give you an expansive look at the important work being done nationwide to rebuild American democracy.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide research, administrative, and logistical support across teams and strategic initiatives, collaborating with staff and consultants as needed.
• Attend internal and external meetings or events, capture key insights, and support follow‑up actions, scheduling, and coordination.
• Conduct high‑quality research and writing to support Issue One’s priorities, including content for blogs, briefs, memos, and other communications products.
• Develop written materials that translate complex democracy‑related topics into clear, accessible content for a variety of audiences.
• Maintain and update organizational databases, trackers, and internal systems to ensure accuracy and support cross‑team workflows.
• Contribute to projects across different issue areas—such as ethics, transparency, election administration, or money‑in‑politics reform—based on organizational needs and individual interests.
• Support bipartisan outreach and engagement efforts, including preparing materials, drafting summaries, and assisting with coordination.
• Take on additional tasks as assigned to advance Issue One’s mission and evolving strategic objectives.

REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrated interest in democracy reform, American politics, and political advocacy
• Self-starter who can see projects through to completion
• Commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable political system
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Positive attitude and willingness to try new things
• Demonstrated ability to generate ideas and adapt to new projects
• Strong organizational abilities and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently, as well as with a team

LOCATION

This will be a part-time internship of 15-25 hours per week. Interns must reside in the Washington, DC, area and join us on-site for a hybrid schedule, including working in our office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (if their class schedule allows).

We anticipate this being a roughly 12-week internship, with a start date on or about February 23 through May 29, 2026. The internship duration is flexible and may be extended if both the intern and their supervisor agree. 

Intern Selection Timeline

• February 2-6: Position is posted, and resumes are collected 
• February 9-17: Interviews occur and preferred and candidate selected. 
• February 23: Internship begins

Special Note: While Issue One will do its best to follow the above timeline, there are instances where the selection process is shortened or delayed due to circumstances beyond our control. The organization will do its best to update all selected candidates on any changes to the timeline. In addition, while resumes may be submitted after February 6, there’s no guarantee they will be screened for a potential interview.

DEI Philosophy and Self-ID Questionnaire 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) drive everything we do at Issue One. We celebrate each individual's unique perspectives and experiences with our team. Your voice matters to us, and we're committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

As part of our ongoing DEI efforts, we invite all applicants to voluntarily complete our self-identification questionnaire. Rest assured, your responses are confidential and have no impact on your job application. This survey helps us better understand our diverse community, ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities for success.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply by clicking here. Please include how you heard about the position.

Issue One is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities and all other employment laws and regulations. We intend to maintain a work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation because of age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including transgender status, gender identity or expression), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decisions, marital status, personal appearance, matriculation, political affiliation, credit information, employment status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), veteran status, uniformed service member status, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking, homeless status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. The Company is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy in regard to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay, fringe benefits, and other compensation, the application of disability and/or temporary disability policies, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.