Since 2023

R U N !

The Book

Run! tells the story of how LGBTQ+ people in San Jose/Silicon Valley progressed from being political outcasts to becoming a force that gained political power, equality, and acceptance. Having lived and breathed queer activism for almost 40 years, Ken Yeager is uniquely positioned to tell the story of how this happened. The strategies he used and the lessons he learned will serve as a guide for activists organizing to counter the current uptick of anti-gay and anti-trans hostilities in their communities. Run! also serves as a primer for LGBTQ+ people thinking of running for office. As the first openly gay elected official in Santa Clara County who served 26 years in public office, Ken Yeager details his numerous campaigns and provides a checklist for how to achieve electoral victory. Winning by itself isn’t enough. It’s what you do while in office that matters. Known as one of the most effective local elected officials, read how Ken Yeager crafted landmark legislation to improve the quality of life of LGBTQ+ people and all residents of Santa Clara Valley. After reading his book, you’ll be inspired to take him up on his call to Run, Baby, Run! for office.

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After reading his book, you’ll be inspired to take him up on his call to Run, Baby, Run! for office.

reviews & testimonials

What people are saying

Readers' Favorite review

The Bay Area Reporter review

Midwest Book Review

Literary Titan

As an LGBTQ+ L.A. Supervisor and CA State Senator (ret.), I have seen that monumental change can be made at the local level. Ken Yeager’s book details the critical but often overlooked value of serving in city and county government. Run! is an invaluable how-to book for making an impact locally.

Run! perfectly captures Ken Yeager’s powerful personal life story. For 40 years, I have watched Ken with admiration as he skillfully dodged landmines as he fought for the LGBTQ+ community. He’s a brilliant strategist who will be an inspiration to any future candidate, particularly those thinking about running under hostile conditions.

Run! is the history of LGBTQ+ politics in the Silicon Valley through the eyes of one gay man’s hard-won success at a time when it was rare. But this book is much more – it’s a primer on how to run for office. It’s a must read for those who want to learn from history, and then continue to make history.

Run! serves as a textbook on moving a candidate and a community from political outsiders to political insiders. Candidates from minority communities can succeed in maintaining their community base and expanding support from allies through leadership on public policy. While Ken meticulously built his own career, he nurtured the Silicon Valley queer community and brought himself and that community into the mainstream of local politics. This is their story.

Soon after Harvey Milk became the first openly gay elected public official in liberal San Francisco, Ken Yeager achieved that distinction in (then) much more socially conservative San Jose, California. Despite the odds arrayed against him, Yeager became one of the most successful local politicians in America, and his path should prove instructive and inspiring to those who are struggling against a resurgence of bigotry. But Yeager was far more than a barrier-breaker. The outpouring of ordinances and policies he authored proved how important activism in local government is--for everyone. The book is therefore deeply instructive for all those interested in local government, social activism, and (not least) LGBTQ rights. It restores some optimism in an increasingly cynical world"

Ken Yeager’s book Run! is a must-read for anyone interested in making significant positive political change in our country. He has taken pages from his life as a courageous pioneer and a life of public service impacting hundreds of thousands of lives. We can all learn from my brother-friend Ken’s extraordinary journey.

Ken Yeager

Ken Yeager received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from San Jose State University and his Ph.D. in Education from Stanford University. In 1984 he co-founded BAYMEC, a political action committee in the Bay Area that is still active today. In 1992, he was elected to the community college board, becoming the first openly gay official in Santa Clara County. He subsequently won election to the San Jose City Council and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. A long-time lecturer at SJSU, he returned to teaching in 2019. He and his partner Michael are proud dads to their Yellow Labrador, Hank.