Women and Politics

This post was submitted by Rebecca Freedholm, WCF Communications Fellow

Although recent polls suggest that Republican Senate candidate Carly Fiorina is garnering support rivaling that of incumbent Barbara Boxer, Fiorina’s anti-woman beliefs may ultimately thwart her endeavors towards becoming a California representative.

Fiorina remains staunchly opposed to a woman’s right to choose, and threatens to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. This strong resistance to women’s reproductive health choices, however, does not sit well with the vast majority of the people she seeks to represent:

“A full 71 percent of Californians favor either keeping the state’s liberal abortion laws intact or making abortion easier to obtain, according to new data from the Field Poll. The same percentage said they support the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade.”

Although Fiorina’s spokeswoman Andrea Saul maintains that reproductive rights won’t be a significant issue for voters this year, she vastly underestimates the importance of choice to constituents. This issue is bound to be a huge hurdle for Fiorina “as she attempts to become the first anti-abortion candidate to win a California race at the top of the ticket since 1986.” California democrats are not the only ones who value reproductive health choices, a large percent of republican and independent voters do as well. Fiorina cannot adequately represent California when her beliefs are so intensely at odds with the majority of constituents.

If Fiorina continues to run an anti-woman campaign, she will likely end up isolating herself from California voters—especially female voters: “A Field Poll released in early July found that women prefer Boxer over Fiorina, 51 percent to 40 percent.” Strikingly this poll also indicates that among independent female voters, who offer a crucial pool of support for GOP candidates running for office in such a Democratic leaning state, “Boxer led Fiorina 49 percent to 35 percent.”

There’s no question as to why Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer is favored among California women; throughout her career, Boxer has remained deeply committed to women’s health care issues and has been unwavering in her mission to protect a woman’s right to choose. While Fiorina may be unwilling to stick up for the issues most important to Californians, Boxer has proven to be a representative who fights for the rights most valued by the California people. Boxer’s campaign manager, Rose Kapolczynski, put the situation into significant perspective when she begged the question,

“Are we going to have a senator who defends a woman’s right to choose when it’s under attack by the right wing, or a senator who will join forces with the most extreme anti-choice groups to try to make abortion a crime?”

Sen. Barbara Boxer understands the causes that her constituents care deeply about, and has valiantly fought to preserve the reproductive health care choices that many, including opponent Fiorina, seek to take away. At WCF, we commend Boxer’s efforts in upholding the values significant to Californians, and support her as she continues to be a wonderful representative of her state.

This post was submitted by Sophie Shulman, WCF Communcations Fellow

This November, women in American politics have the opportunity to break yet another glass ceiling. According to the Center for American Women and Politics, eight states have the potential to elect their first female governor ever. 26 states have never had a female governor, and, currently, there are only six women serving as governors in the entire country. These statistics, in conjunction with women’s 17% representation in Congress, paint a dismal picture of women’s participation in the political system.

In many ways, women’s representation at the state level is actually more important than at the federal level. While Senators and Congresswomen tend to make more impressive role models, state legislators and governors often have more impact on women’s day-to-day lives. Indeed, Governor Charlie Crist’s brave decision last month to veto a bill that would require pre-abortion ultrasounds is just one example of governors providing the first line of defense for women’s rights. Here at WCF, we work to elect women up and down the ticket to ensure that state legislatures and governments are also filled with female candidates that are willing to fight for women.

But there’s another reason why we’re working to get more women into governors’ mansions. In fact, over half of the U.S. presidents elected in the 20th century were former governors. The executive and leadership experience that governors gain while serving in the highest state office is invaluable—and is seen as the path to the presidency. If we someday hope to elect a female president, we have to work today to secure female governors.

And it appears that 2011 could be a groundbreaking year for women governors. In addition to the eight states that may elect their first female governors, two of the sitting governors don’t face re-election this cycle, and another ten states have female candidates, many of which look to be likely winners in November. If elected, these women will beat the 2004 and 2006 record of nine sitting female governors.

Here at WCF, we’ve endorsed five of these outstanding women: Libby Mitchell (ME), Margaret Anderson Kelliher (MN), Diane Denish (NM), Deb Markowitz (VT), and sitting Governor Bev Purdue (NC). We’re also supporting Linda Chavez-Thompson and Yvette McGee Brown who are hoping to become Lieutenant Governors, a great stepping-stone to governor and beyond.

While we’re thrilled that so many women are taking a chance and choosing to run for office, it’s a shame that WCF cannot endorse every woman who chooses to run for governor. We’ve selected these candidates because they’ve shown their commitment to promoting women’s rights, through their political, professional, and personal lives.

It’s fantastic to see that progress is being made in state legislatures, governor’s offices and at the federal level. But perhaps we shouldn’t be so eager to celebrate the fact that women have the potential to make up—at most—24% of the nation’s governors in 2011. We’ll continue to do our best to elect our talented women candidates—but we all need to work harder to show how much we want and need more women in government.

This post was submitted by Sophie Shulman, WCF Communications Fellow

In 2009, our political team at WCF identified Beth Krom, the former Mayor of Irvine, California, and current City Councilwoman, as a promising candidate for California’s 48th district. WCF endorsed her candidacy early on, and we’ve been helping her gain national attention ever since. This morning, we were thrilled to hear that Krom was named Democracy for America’s Grassroots All-Star.

Here at WCF, we’ve fought for Krom because she is committed to the advancement of women in leadership, and has proven to be a strong and capable representative of Irvine’s interests. During her tenure as Mayor, Irvine was named the “Safest City in America” four times, and also as one of the “Greenest Cities in America.” Running in a Republican area, Krom has won the past five elections in which she has participated, showing that she knows what it takes to run an effective campaign.

As a former teacher, business owner, volunteer, and mother, Krom’s political and life experience is well suited to address the complex needs of her constituents. While we’ve known all along that Krom has what it takes to be a great leader, this impressive victory shows that she has the grassroots support necessary to provide a tough challenge to the incumbent, John Campbell.

John Campbell is one of the most anti-woman candidates currently serving in Congress. In a recent blog post, he suggested eliminating family planning funding under Title X, and his votes speak for themselves: against equal pay for women and for employee discrimination.  Although Republicans have historically held this seat, Krom has what it takes to convince Orange County that she’s the right choice.

Krom has already convinced numerous organizations across the country that she’ll fight for what matters. In addition to WCF, she’s received endorsements from the American Federation of Teachers, Human Rights Campaign, National Organization for Women, Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood, and National Women’s Political Caucus. And most recently, Krom convinced the over 66,000 voters in DFA’s Grassroots All-Star Competition that she has the most effective team on-the-ground to fight for progressive leadership in Congress.

DFA Chair, Jim Dean, shared his impressions of Krom’s campaign:

”She has 300 volunteers on the ground (many of them local DFA members) who are door knocking, phone banking, and helping get her message out to the district. She also has city leaders who support her and volunteer to coordinate community events. These leaders have helped ensure Beth reaches each and every community throughout the district.”

Krom’s ability to reach out to her community and her strong record in California are major reasons why WCF has supported her for so long. We’re glad to see that more national organizations are getting on board, and we’ll keep fighting for her until November—and beyond!

This post was submitted by Sophie Shulman, WCF Communications Fellow

In February of this year, Rep. Diane Watson, who has represented California’s 33rd District for nine years in Congress, announced her plans to retire. A lifelong public servant, Watson has served as a school teacher, state senator, Ambassador to Micronesia, and finally, as a Congresswoman. She is truly a role model for women across the country.

And certainly, she has been a role model to Karen Bass, the speaker of the California State Assembly. When Bass was elected to the position in 2008, she made history as the first African American woman to serve as the speaker of a state assembly in the United States. Like Watson, Bass has been a community activist, establishing the Community Coalition, a non-profit that fights for social justice in Los Angeles.

But perhaps the most important contribution made by each of these strong women is reaching out to help another woman reach a leadership position. Rep. Watson has thrown her full support behind Bass to fill her position:

“I 100% — maybe 300% — endorse Karen Bass,”

Bass has received endorsements from other progressive organizations and powerful California women, including Rep. Maxine Waters and Sen. Dianne Feinstein. In a district where 66% of registered voters are Democrats, the winner of the Democratic primary is very likely to secure the seat.

In turn, Bass has reached out to Holly Mitchell, yet another active and capable African American woman, to be her successor. Mitchell, who formerly worked for Rep. Watson when she was a state Senator, has also proven her stripes through community organizing and has received numerous endorsements from elected officials, the California Democratic Party, and labor groups.

We’re proud that these women have used their success to help other women gain access to the highly competitive and unequal political world. WCF has endorsed Karen Bass and Holly Mitchell because they are capable, knowledgeable, and ready to serve their constituents.

A major part of our work at WCF is to create a network of women who can provide each other with mutual support, resources, and opportunities to increase women’s participation in public office. Women like Diane Watson, Karen Bass, and Holly Mitchell have forged connections that allow for these extraordinary women to advance their political careers and encourage more women to be involved in government.

The Senate has voted to confirm Rosie Rios as the United State’s next treasurer.  She will become the third consecutive Latina to hold that position, advising Secretary Geithner on matters of currency and other government production interests.

President Obama nominated Rios in May, citing her extensive experience in financial, real estate and urban planning sectors.  She took time off in 2008 to work on Latino voting in Virginia, and later serving on the President’s Treasury transition team.

Prior to campaigning with the Obamas, Rios worked at McFarlane Partners, dealing with high end real estate in East Bay, CA.  She also worked in urban financial planning for the City of Oakland, San Leandro and Union City, CA.  In total, Rios has over 20 years of real estate and community development experience.

WCF applauds Rios’ appointment and confirmation, and believes this is an important step towards reaching gender parity in public life, especially in the male-dominated financial sector.

Yesterday, Southern Californians voted overwhelmingly to elect WCF-endorsed Candidate Judy Chu to the U.S. House of Representatives from CA-32!  She will become the first Chinese-American woman to serve in Congress.

Chu fills a seat left open by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, appointed by President Obama in January.  Chu served as the vice chair of the California Board of Equalization and finished atop a field of 13 candidates in the May primary.

WCF congratulates this outstanding candidate, who will take her seat as the 93rd woman in this Congress.  That means just 17% of the 111th Congress is female.  Congratulations to Chu- Congress needs a strong woman like you!

Where did May go? How is it almost over? I can’t believe that TOMORROW, the 19th, is the special election for Dr. Judy Chu.

Judy is running for Congress in CA’s 32nd district to fill the seat left when President Obama nominated Hilda Solis as the Secretary of Labor. Many women’s organizations, including WCF, have endorsed Judy, because she’s a strong candidate with a record of protecting reproductive justice.

WomenCount caught up with Dr. Chu and talked to her about women running for office. Judy said that although women are supporting each other more and more, the “Old Boys” club is still alive and well:

When my local Assembly seat opened up in 2001, I decided to run. But the Old Boy’s Network wanted a male, and they put all their resources into backing him and putting up roadblocks for me. But then there was a turning point in the race. It was when Congresswoman Hilda Solis decided to support me. Her support provided the critical boost that I needed to win.

As WCF knows all too well, running for office isn’t a common career goal for young women. Most of the time, it’s not even on the radar. Dr. Chu tells MOMocrats that it was her activism on issues like women’s rights that inspired her to build on her momentum and run for office.

I realized that it was possible for me to be a community activist too, and to be a leader in changing people’s lives for the better. I joined the movement to pass the Equal Rights Amendment for women, and then taught classes at UCLA on Asian American Women.

Though she thinks she’s the best candidate for the job, Dr. Chu also told WomenCount how important it is for women to achieve parity in public office:

The fact that we represent only 17% of Congress is outrageous. I think the more women who serve, the more our interests will be served. Not that there aren’t good progressive men fighting for women’s rights, but we bring a unique perspective that comes with being a daughter, a wife, a mother or a grandmother.

Right on. I love how Dr. Chu is speaking out on the need for women’s equality in public life. It’s truly experienced women like her that inspire women to run for office. I hope CA’s 32nd will go out and support this fabulous candidate, advocate, and women in tomorrow’s special election - Congress needs her.