Internships

The Office of Congressman Keith Ellison is looking for enthusiastic interns for our Washington and Minneapolis offices. We are seeking highly motivated individuals ready to play a vital role in a fast-paced office environment while learning about Congress and the Federal Government. This is a great way of earning valuable experience and helping to make a difference by serving the people of the Fifth District of Minnesota.

The internship offers an excellent opportunity to learn about Congress, the legislative process, politics, and the government in general, whether you are studying these topics formally in school or you are simply interested in learning more about them. The primary duties of interns include assisting the Representative's staff in clerical and administrative responsibilities, working on research projects with the legislative staff, staffing the Representative at events, and helping staff involved in constituent casework. Interns will also gain insight into the legislative process by attending committee hearings, briefings on issues, and other similar events. The exposure to the whole range of Congressional activities, from watching debates on major legislation to sorting constituent mail, offers a valuable educational opportunity to anyone interested in politics.

Internships are unpaid and generally last from 3-4 months. We do not discriminate based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. We prefer to have interns with strong ties to the Fifth District and/or Minnesota.

To apply for an internship please submit the following via email:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Two Writing Samples
• Two References

Current Openings: 

The Minneapolis and Washington D.C. offices of Congressman Keith Ellison seeks unpaid interns to fill positions for January through April/May 2015. Main responsibilities include answering phones, processing mail, drafting constituent correspondence letters, researching legislative issues, planning events, and attending meetings/hearings as needed. There will also be opportunities to attend receptions and seminars of interest. Candidates should be self-motivated, enthusiastic, flexible, and computer-literate (with a good understanding of MS Office). This is a great opportunity for college students seeking academic credit and recent graduates. Minnesota ties strongly preferred. If interested, please send resume, cover letter, and two writing samples to nicky.leingang@mail.house.gov for internships in Minneapolis and to zach.freed@mail.house.gov for internships in Washington, DC. 

Application deadlines for Winter 2015:

• DC Office - December 20th, 2014
• District Office - December 12th, 2014

DC Internship Coordinator:

Minnesota Internship Coordinator

If you have any questions please contact our D.C. Office at 202-225-4755 or our Minneapolis Office at 612-522-1212.

* Due to increased security measures, all mail sent to the House can take between 2-6 weeks longer than usual to reach the office. When mailing your application, please allow enough time for your application to be received by the aforementioned deadlines.