Our Story
Imagine. You are Democrat in an R+20 district. Someone calls and asks you to run for state legislature. You won't win, but you will give voters a real choice at the ballot box.
But also, you'll take a big risk. How will your neighbors react to your run? What will you sacrifice socially? Can your job survive being politically different from the people around you?
Running blue in a deep red district takes guts and commitment to democracy. It's not easy - you won't get much support from political organizations. Fundraising will be difficult. And it will take all of your time and then some. All to lose.
That's why we started the Can't Win Victory Fund.
We fill a critical gap in our political system: Meaningful support for longshot candidates. We have their backs the whole way through - from recruitment, to training, to campaign support. We don't leave anyone behind and we help candidates have maximum impact in their communities.
Your Can't Win Victory Fund Team and Board Members
Kate Compton Barr
Founder & Board Chair
Loser In Charge of Losing
Kate is the OG Loser. In 2024, she ran the first Can't Win campaign for NC Senate District 37 and accidentally started a whole thing.
When she’s not losing, she’s using her behavioral science background and expertise in persuasive communication to consult on campaigns and causes across the United States.
Caitlin Barnes
Founding Board Member
The One Who One Once
Caitlin stands out on the team because she actually won something one time. She helped House Rep Beth Helfrich break the Republican supermajority.
As a born winner, Caitlin had to go through rigorous loser training before joining this team. But never fear, she's fully embraced the loser lifestyle and is ready to suffer like the rest of us.
Tara Larson Arbitter
Founding Board Member
Champion of Lost Causes
Having spent her life in red precincts, red counties, red districts, and red states—and even red industries—Tara knows the heartbreak of losing.
Repeatedly. Consistently. Spectacularly.
So she decided to get really good at it. Now she’s the one behind the branding, design, and messaging — making losing look good.
Beth Kendall
Founding Board Member
Chief Pain Officer
As Democratic Party Chair in deep red Iredell County, Beth is more than familiar with
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losing and
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convincing people to endure the pain of losing again and again
She also runs marathons, so she knows a thing or two about persevering through discomfort.
Emma Kennett
Chief Strategist
Loser in training
Emma has a nasty habit of winning. She's one of the best campaign managers in the state of North Carolina, having managed three winning, targeted state legislative races in a row. She also managed her mom's winning campaign to become the first female mayor of Burlington. That's an awful lot of winning for our crew, but she's worth it.
Ilina Ewen
Board Member
Loser in training
Ilina’s losing streak started early: at 10 years old, she wrote an indignant letter calling out a sexist ad campaign… and she’s still waiting for a reply. Undeterred, she’s been speaking up ever since.
She’s spent decades fighting for kids, public health, and equity — which means she’s collected more polite brush-offs, awkward silences, and uphill battles than she can count.
Now raising her voice from San Antonio, she’s doubling down on truth-telling and her signature side-eye.