If you ran for Congress in 2018, there was a pretty good chance you are part of a political documentary.

First came “Knock Down the House,” from Netflix, which featured a (then) little known candidate, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Then came “And She Could Be Next” on PBS’ POV that followed minority female candidates, including Rashida Tlaib, Veronica Escobar and Lucy McBath. Now comes “Surge,” on Showtime, which follows women who ran against veteran Republican incumbents.

CQ Roll Call political reporters Bridget Bowman and Kate Ackley spoke to Illinois Rep. Lauren Underwood, a star of “Surge,” and filmmakers Wendy Sachs and Hannah Rosenzweig about their new movie.

On the latest Political Theater podcast, we talk about how weird it was to see people campaigning in the pre-COVID era (feels like a million years ago), the emotional toll of campaigning, how “Surge” fits into the growing library of political documentary films and what other kind of campaign stories are ripe for the telling: Calling all budding filmmakers! We’re available for (virtual) lunch.

Show Notes:

• Behind the scenes: ‘Surge’ follows 2018 wave of women candidates
• Movie Night: “Knock Down the House”
• Missouri Rep. William Lacy Clay ousted by Black Lives Matter activist Cori Bush
• This isn’t a movie about Stacey Abrams
• ‘Watching John Lewis watch himself’: Dawn Porter’s documentary on the civil rights icon
• A good time for a film about ‘Good Trouble’
• Miss the campaign trail? These directors and their movies take us back
• ‘Slay the Dragon’ filmmakers take fight to gerrymandering
• Latest additions to National Film Registry a political smorgasbord
• How a Capitol Hill staffer and a James Bond screenwriter dramatized ‘The Report’
• Listen to previous episodes of Political Theater