Make history during Women’s History Month and run for office

During Women’s History Month this March, celebrate what women have achieved, but recognize the continuing lack of women in elected office throughout the world. Think about what history women could make if they achieved political parity. For starters, women could reverse the division between political parties.

History will judge this moment in our country for the bitter bipartisanship and vitriol that dominates and hinders governments’ abilities to serve the people’s needs. Getting more women into elected office is not only key to better addressing issues that directly affect them, it can also help to bridge our national divide and create a more collaborative and kinder history.

But women candidates need support; they need the education to run, raise money, and win elections.

I have spent close to 40 years in politics in Connecticut and Washington, DC., and as executive director of The Campaign School at Yale (TCSYALE), a bi-partisan, issue-neutral political campaign training program. Over the course of my career, I have been proud to support domestic Democratic and Republican candidates, female and male, and a host of international candidates looking to better their own countries. I have observed, and the research supports, some key points: In general, women of all parties are less ego-driven, more collaborative, and more motivated by the idea of helping to make things better.

Women get into politics for different reasons than men, and once we get there, we lead differently. As women, we bring our historic experiences — the roles we hold in our families and our communities, the understanding of being secondary in a male-dominated culture, and our empathy — with us into political office from local Boards of Education to Congress, Parliaments, and other governing bodies

Women are more likely to reach across the aisle and bring forth more bipartisan legislation. On the national level, we need only look at the four women who are currently making history as the chairs and ranking members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees to see evidence of this. Women, two Democrats and two Republicans, hold these seats for the first time. In 2023 the committees passed all 12 appropriations bills out of committee, the first time that had happened in five years.

Here’s a reminder of the statistics. According to the Center for Women and Politics, in the U.S. women hold just 31 percent of elected offices. Just 29 percent of the U.S. Congress identifies as female and of those Women of Color are even more underrepresented. Internationally, just 26 countries have women as heads of state, according to the United Nations. At the current rate, it will take 130 years to reach gender parity, the United Nations says.

Changing this starts with getting more women into the political pipeline.

The barriers to women running for and gaining elected office exist and are unfair, but they can be overcome. To improve our communities, our states, our country, and our world, women with the passion, guts, energy, and determination to make a difference must not be discouraged. With the right training and support, women can accelerate their entry to the halls of power and change the governing dynamic with more collaboration and empathy.

One of the main hurdles that women candidates face is fundraising. While I oversimplify, a man gets up in the morning, gets dressed, looks in the mirror and says, “I’m going to run for the U.S. Senate.” A Senate run costs a minimum of $10 million to have a chance at success. Due to wealth inequity and other factors, male candidates more often have personal fortunes or access to supporters with the means to donate.

Few women have an “Old Boys Club” to call on for support. When a woman hears that a U.S. Senate run is $10 million, she thinks, “Where in the world will I be able to raise that amount of money?” (Some women Senatorial candidates have been blessed with personal fortunes, but they are the exceptions, not the rule.)

This is an extreme example, but the same holds true for running for elected office at all levels. Reducing women’s fundraising anxiety is critical to expanding the number of women who decide to run for office. At The Campaign School at Yale, we provide practical recommendations for fundraising to aspiring candidates and their campaign managers that help them overcome their fears in order to achieve success.

Further, consider security. Once a woman decides to run for office and raises enough money to campaign, she can face written and verbal abuse, often focused on misogynistic tropes. Threats of violence online and in-person are sad facts of political life these days. Women candidates can take steps to be safe on the campaign trail.

Jillian Gilchrest, a Connecticut state representative and TCSYALE alum, spoke at last year’s TCSYALE Summer Session, focusing on personal security while a candidate for office. She received death threats over her opposition to the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade. However, she, like many other women candidates, would not be deterred from running. Instead, she took steps to protect herself, her family, and her campaign team.

The dangers can be even graver for our International students.

Once a woman from Cameroon was delayed in arriving at our intensive 5-day Summer Session, our signature campaign training course. She had been kidnapped by her opponent. This has not happened in the U.S., but the threats remain prevalent.

Let me close by exhorting potential women candidates. I admit it’s not easy. You need a deep desire to serve your communities and country. You need to love the day-to-day work; indeed, campaigning for and holding office is a ton of work. You need the energy, stamina, and thick skin to persevere in the tough business of politics. And you need a supportive dream team. Graduates of our school know we are always in their corner. We support our alums long beyond their five days with us. The coaching/ mentoring component to our work, creating a life-long safety net for our graduates, is as important as the exemplary training they receive.

If you think this is for you and you want to make history, get the training you need and run for political office. There is a path to success for you. If you decide not to run, then support women candidates. Not all women are meant to hold public office, but all women can make a difference. There is a path to collaboration and kindness in politics. Let women lead the way.

Patricia (Patti) Russo is the executive director of The Campaign School at Yale, a bipartisan, issue-neutral nonprofit campaign training school for those who identify as women and those helping them gain office. The school holds 1-day campaign trainings for those who may be interested in running for office. Its 5-day intensive Summer Session at Yale Law School will run June 10-14 this year. This session is for those who have experience in politics and who want to grow their campaigning skillset. To learn more visit Tcsyale.org.