Women Run

Last night, fellow City Council Candidate Marnie Glickman shared with us this somewhat shocking bit of data - only ten women have ever served on City Council in Portland’s entire history. Cue deep internal cringe.

Marnie and Lisa at a joint house party in SW Portland on Sunday

In 41 days we have the opportunity to vote for women from the highest office to city council. The Harris-Walz campaign is giving us joy and in Oregon, we are likely to elect one women as State treasurer and three to the US House. In Portland, we may elect a majority of women on the County Commission. So what about City Council, and why does it matter?

For the facts, I’m going to hand it over to the good people of Vote Run Lead, an organization with a mission to increase representation of women and gender expansive candidates in elected office - who have been supporting our campaign since the very beginning. This is not an endorsement, but they graciously shared the following language with our team for use in this newsletter.

Vote Run Lead is dedicated to advancing women's representation in politics, from local city councils to the presidency. Although women make up 51% of the population, they hold only about one-third of elected positions nationwide. This disparity underscores a critical issue in democracy: to truly reflect its diverse makeup, women must be active at all levels of government.

Local positions, such as city council seats, are crucial for tackling community-specific issues like public safety, education, and housing. Women, who often have firsthand experience with these challenges, are uniquely equipped to address them effectively. Their deep understanding of local needs not only drives meaningful change at the grassroots level but also prepares them for higher offices. As women advance to roles in state legislatures, governor positions, Congress, and even the presidency, they bring invaluable insights to national policymaking. This progression builds a powerful pipeline of skilled women leaders, ready to enact transformative change across in any political seat.

Many women face significant barriers in the political arena, such as securing campaign funding and accessing necessary support. Vote Run Lead addresses these challenges by providing the tools, resources, and encouragement needed for women to run for office, win, and lead effectively. 

By increasing women's representation, we ensure that diverse perspectives shape policy and governance, leading to more inclusive and effective solutions. Vote Run Lead empowers women at all levels to build a more representative democracy that better serves all citizens. As more women assume leadership roles, they will drive the changes needed to improve our communities and nation as a whole.

Vote Run Lead Action

From Vote Run Lead’s Website

Thanks for reading, as always. We hope to see you soon, here are some ways to join us -

Speaking of Joy….