State Voices

So for me to take on [being the first Black woman ever appointed to the Nevada state justice system], in some cases, people would consider it an honor but I recognized it as a responsibility because people were going to come to me that typically had never had access to the justice system in this way before. And there was going to be an expectation on me that wasn’t placed on other judges. And I had to be mindful of that because that’s a whole extra component of the job…especially when you’re a first. When you’re a first and when people have known you all your life and the expectation is that you will be available and be accountable and always have the answers, it can be a lot."

So the financial aspect of it, I think, is probably one major hurdle [to Black women in congressional or statewide executive offices]. …And then I think just the relationships that have to be developed…[haven’t] been open to people of color as strongly. …[U.S. Senator] Catherine Cortez Masto – if you look at her coming of age here in Nevada, her father was hugely influential as a politician and was very powerful and very well-known, and she’s benefited from that. And there’s nothing wrong with that, but that’s the reality of what’s happened as opposed to maybe somebody who didn’t have that access. I think the challenge would be a lot more."

Women just have to work 29,000 times harder in any capacity, whether it’s fundraising [or] whatever it is just to exist in this [political] space. But that’s why we do it, right? So that other women can exist without harm."

That’s where the system failed is there’s no support once you’re [in office]. I mean support meaning formally or like any kind of resource. Yes I can call other women and bitch and moan and whatever, but you know what I’m saying."

I don’t think there are any barriers [to women’s political representation]. It’s just since women still have most of the responsibility for the family unit, do you have a husband who’s very supportive? Mine is. But my kids were grown and gone. I’m a grandmother now. But for those who are working, do they have a partner who can help carry the load…with the kids?"

Unfortunately, women in politics are always in a constant battle against those stereotypes. Far too often women with opinions and suggestions in the political world are labeled as too emotional or a creator of problems. I have sat in meetings where someone has had the same idea or recommendation that I’ve previously had ignored or discredited viewed and handled in a much more reciprocal manner. [Interview conducted in May 2022.]"

For me, the Lincoln Series was an invaluable opportunity that first opened my eyes to the idea of running for public office. It provided me with the pivotal experience of shadowing an elected woman State Senator. I had the chance to spend the entire day with them on the Senate floor and in meetings, allowing me to absorb the process firsthand. Before participating in the Lincoln Series, I was nervous about the idea of running for office, but after that experience, it truly gave me the boost and confidence to take the next step. [Interview conducted in May 2022.]"

When I started my career, I worked at EMILY’s List for two cycles. We were always trying to recruit women into races and that was usually the biggest challenge,…getting them to think either they were a viable candidate, [that] they had the experience to run, [and/or] they were at a point in their life where it was okay for them to run for office. I just think that mindset has really shifted dramatically, and I think a lot of that has to do with Trump. I think a lot of it has to do with just the events in the last ten years. But never before have I seen as many women who are like, ‘I need to do this because the country needs me. And I’m good enough and experienced enough to be a great candidate.’ …That really is a remarkable change."

I mean look – I think it’s a self-propagating thing. I think that the more you see women in positions of power, the more women in positions of power there are. I do think [in] the early days of [women’s entry as high-level staff and operatives], there was a little bit of like, ‘Oh look, that lady brain can do it, and maybe we’ll hire more of them.’ I’ve definitely seen it become more common."

When I came into office here to work for the governor, I would say the majority of lobbyists were men. I really made it a point to call it out, though, when a bunch of dudes [came] in my office, to the point where I can remember saying in one meeting, ‘I’m going to start having a rule that if you don’t bring a female lobbyist, I’m not going to take the meeting,’ which I wasn’t actually serious about but I think just saying it out loud had an impact."

I would say the network of women of color in political spaces in Illinois is probably the strongest of any state I’ve ever seen. …I think and this is partly because of – and there’s like this really robust, wonderful, vibrant Black and brown community here that has produced really strong political leaders for decades. …And I would say that leaders who are currently elected and in office pay a lot of attention to that and work to cultivate those things. …It’s just like…such an amazing kind of group of women especially and they care about their communities. But they also care about filling the pipeline behind them."

We are very grateful to the majority of our presenters [who] do this on a volunteer basis which is really helpful. And if we didn’t have that I don’t know that we would [have] a program."