Case Study: Equal Rights Amendment Ratification Campaign achieves Virginia ERA ratification with Caplan Communications

Equal Rights Amendment Ratification Campaign secures 38th-state ratification with Caplan

The Equal Rights Amendment Ratification Campaign, a national effort to secure constitutional gender equality, faced a decades-long impasse and a legislative bottleneck in Virginia that prevented a final vote. The campaign engaged Caplan Communications to help advance the ratification effort, which had stalled despite broad public support.

Caplan Communications implemented a coordinated, multi-state communications strategy that aligned legal, advocacy, and media pressure. Following the 2019 elections, Caplan rapidly adapted its approach to a compressed decision window in the new Virginia legislature. This effort resulted in Virginia ratifying the ERA as the 38th and final state needed, breaking the decades-long impasse and marking a historic milestone for constitutional gender equality.