Lyssa Davids

Congressional Fellowship & Next Step alum

After losing the election for student body president, Lyssa Davids did not know what to do next. Several years later, she empowers young women who encountered a similar situation to hers, providing them with opportunities to get involved in politics. 

Lyssa Davids is a 2021 alum of the Running Start Congressional Fellowship and a graduate of the University of Montana with a bachelor's degree in English. At the time of the interview, she was a Field Director for a national nonpartisan nonprofit. She now works in community engagement for an international luxury wellness brand. 

Initially, Davids’s path to Running Start was accidental. Only winning 13% of the vote in her election and confused about her next step, Davids applied to the Running Start Congressional Fellowship at the last minute. Two days later, she was interviewed, and after another two days, she found out that she was going to D.C.

“It was kind of a wild ride. So definitely appreciate what I was able to get accomplished.” Davids said. 

Participating in Running Start was the starting point of Davids’s career path in politics, and the experience gradually changed her. One of her most important memories was living with Fellows whose political views were substantially different from hers. This was in fall 2021, when political tensions were high, and Davids’s perspective shifted while living with people with whom she did not agree.

“I'm someone who's like a total bull in a China shop.” Davids joked, “I really struggle when I feel like my opinion is not being heard, but I learned so much about listening.”

Davids said that she has friends with different political views. Instead of viewing them as enemies, she helps them. “Helping them find their voice and be able to create a seat for them at the table has been really impactful for me because when we rise, even if I might not agree with all of your policy positions, we all end up rising together.” She said.

Just as serendipity brought her to Running Start, it changed Davids’s path again when she participated in the Reykjavik Global Forum in 2023. She was not originally chosen to go, but her name moved up in the waitlist when others dropped out, eventually leading her to the spotlight to speak out in front of 500 world leaders. 

Sitting in the Salt Lake City Airport waiting for her flight to Iceland, Davids struggled with whether to say yes to the opportunity to speak out about her experience as the survivor of sexual assault. She does not consider her story a typical victim experience since the perpetrator is her ex-boyfriend, who self-identified as a feminist and whom her family trusted, which made her terrified to make it public. 

Davids described the moment on stage as the most empowering experience of her life. This was the chance for her to reclaim the narrative for her own story, while also speaking out for other women in similar situations. 

“It felt important to me to stand up and say something for them too because I think it will eventually come out that this was definitely a gender motivated attack.” She said, “I think that we as women should get to exist in a space without being scared to just be ourselves. And speaking on that was so cool.”

As Davids took a step forward and spoke out, she received generosity from others. A diplomat from Saudi Arabia talked to Davids after her speech, starting the conversation referencing the television show Yellowstone, which takes place in the state where Davids lives. 

“She was like, ‘I really hope one day you get to come visit Saudi Arabia. I would roll out the red carpet for you,’” Davids said. 

Right now, Davids is extending that sense of empowerment to others. In the communities that have shaped her, she continues to look for ways to give back.

Growing up in Pocatello, Idaho, Davids developed a long-lasting connection with her hometown. She was named the Idaho Mountain River District’s Distinguished Alumna of the Year in 2024 and later worked with its debate coaches. In Montana, where she attended college and where she and her husband eventually decided to live, Davids works to support young women interested in politics.

For Running Start, where Davids was inspired for her career in politics, she gives back by giving young women the same opportunities she had. She created a program through her work to identify potential candidates, particularly young conservative women, and encourage them to apply to Running Start. 

“Running Start is really important to me because of the opportunities it's provided me. I don't think that I would have a job in politics without Running Start.” She said. 

In the future, Davids plans to build a stronger connection between the University of Montana and Running Start. 

“I think the most important thing to understand about Running Start is that when you pour your time, talent, and treasure into one person in Running Start, you're likely creating a ripple effect throughout their community,” Davids said. 

Written by Running Start Fellow Chloe Mo