Winning Women – View from the Local Level

So much has been written about the surge of women running for office in 2018 … and winning! (I’ve appended some of the best below.) Nevertheless, I’m compelled to add my point of view and learning to the conversation.

As a member of the endorsement committee for a local women’s political organization, I felt – if I’m honest – some dread about spending all day listening to women talk about running for local offices, like school boards and city councils. Would the issues seem narrow compared to the big stories I read on my iPhone every morning?

Then one by one over 30 women sat in front of the committee and each in their own way enthralled us. First, the sheer number. More ran than ever before in our county. Then, the diversity. Age, race, ethnicity, life experience, work experience, political experience. Each was unique. Each told a different and powerful story about why they were running. I was riveted and found myself often near tears. In the end, 70% won their races.

Listening that day, training candidates, volunteering, I was reminded of these key points:

Diversity isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a necessity. If only one experience is represented, our visions and results are severely limited. We can try, but we cannot truly know what will help most unless we’ve walked in another’s shoes. If we haven’t, we must elect others who have.

There is not one right way to overcome obstacles. Each woman faced roadblocks and each took a different path to overcome them. Turning the other cheek, addressing it head on, forming alliances. One thing was common to all – the willingness to try. Over and over we heard: They told me I couldn’t and that only made me try harder.

We care about who these candidates are as people. Their strengths, values, purpose. While we want to know their stand on the issues, as I listened I also thought: Tell me your story and I’ll give you my hand…and very often my vote.

Finally, there is no substitute for women supporting other women. They can only jump high if they have both a springboard and a safety net! Each of us must continue providing our support however and wherever we can.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/03/us/politics/women-activism-midterms.html

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/09/us/women-elected-midterm-elections.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/03/us/politics/women-campaign-managers-midterms.html