Katie Usalis - DSS 2025
Day One of the 2025 Democracy Solutions Summit explored how local governments act as laboratories of democracy. Leaders discussed women’s pathways to power, the impact of systemic barriers, and how ranked choice voting helps women win.
Day One of the Democracy Solutions Summit highlighted how local government can serve as a laboratory for democracy. In her opening remarks, Vote Run Lead CEO and Founder Erin Vilardi reminded participants that “democracy is an evolution, not a destination.” Local office may seem small in scale, but its impact is immense — and women leaders are essential to driving this evolution forward.
RepresentWomen Executive Director Cynthia Richie Terrell welcomed attendees to the Summit, underscoring the systemic barriers women face at every stage of politics — from recruitment and fundraising to the outdated winner-take-all voting system and workplaces not designed for parents. She emphasized the urgency of dismantling these structures and building a 21st-century democracy with gender balance at every level.
The day continued with two dynamic discussions:
- Local Office: A Pivotal Pathway to Power – A fireside chat with former elected officials Liana Cassar (RI), Victoria Pelletier (ME), and Tamaya Dennard (OH) explored how local government shapes daily life, why women’s lived experiences are vital to decision-making, and how positional power can be used to expand community access.
- From Portland to Portland: Women Winning with Ranked Choice Voting – Leaders from Maine, Oregon, Utah, and New Mexico, including RepresentWomen’s Victoria Pelletier, shared how ranked choice voting is transforming local politics by reducing negative campaigning, elevating policy-focused dialogue, and increasing access for women and candidates of color.
The day concluded with a powerful conversation on grassroots strategies in cities like New York and across Alaska, demonstrating how reforms like ranked choice voting can strengthen democracy from the ground up.
