Knock Down The House

Knock Down the House details the 2018 congressional bids of four female Democrats: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Amy Vilela of Nevada, Cori Bush of Missouri, and Paula Jean Swearengin of West Virginia.

Working with organisations Brand New Congress and Justice Democrats, director Rachel Lears focuses on non-career female politicians. Highlighting the new class of candidates entering the political field, the ups, downs, and horizontal shifts of a grassroots campaign are captured in emotional detail.

The four candidates, newcomers to politics, find themselves engaged in a difficult and tumultuous road to Congress. Each, with her own compelling reason to fight on, brings the issues of her community to light. From their initial motivations to the final outcomes of their elections, the candidates’ journeys to Congress are explored.