Black women are woefully underrepresented across all levels of government – check out the numbers here. While institutional barriers for Black women are ever-present on the campaign trail, here are three I’ve seen time and again: 1. Money First and most importantly, raising money is harder for Black women. While there are Black people …

  For all the challenges for women running for public office, it’s even more challenging when you are woman of color, specifically a Black woman. This was much of the frustration vented last week when Senator Kamala Harris abruptly bowed out of the race for the Democratic nomination for President. It was a sad end …

Poll after poll has health care as a leading concern for voters in the 2020 race. This backs up research from the Women & Politics Institute at American University, which shows that health care is top of mind for women voters.  Health care has also been a top issue for Democratic primary debate moderators, with …

  Elected to Congress in 1964, Representative Patsy Mink of Hawaii was the first nonwhite and first Asian American woman to serve in Congress. She paved the way for the record number of women of color currently serving, and spent her 12 term Congressional career fighting against gender and racial discrimination. As she put it, …

Happy Friday! Welcome to our Media Round Up. Each week we’re collecting and sharing our favorite gender + politics stories. Here’s what caught our eye this week: Kamala Harris Says She’s Still ‘in This Fight,’ but Out of the 2020 Race By Astead W. Herndon, Shane Goldmacher, and Jonathan Martin, with contributed reporting by Maggie …

  The political environment leading up to the 2018 midterm elections was ripe for women candidates. Political engagement was high, and the stage was set for not only a “wave” election with large gains for Democrats in the House, but a wave built largely on the electoral success of women. As such, 2018 was dubbed …

  Today, Kamala Harris announced the end of her presidential bid, making her the second woman after Kirsten Gillibrand to exit the 2020 race. She was the only Black woman in the race, and the only person of color (so far) to qualify for the upcoming December debate. The Democratic primary race started with six women, shattering records, with each woman bringing …

  Born in 1924, Shirley Chisholm was many things: nursery school teacher; author; the first Black Congresswoman; and in 1972, perhaps most impressively, the first Black major-party candidate to run for President of the United States (although she had to fight to be included in the primary debates!). On what would have been Chisholm’s 95th …

  Thanksgiving officially kicks off the holiday season and all that entails: good food, visiting family and friends, and the inevitable arguments over politics. How are we supposed to enjoy our turkey while navigating “an emotional minefield hiding underneath a kitschy tablecloth”? Gun control, healthcare, taxes, and immigration were all on people’s minds last Thanksgiving, …