RepresentWomen’s Cynthia Richie Terrell sits down with CityBiz to discuss ranked choice voting, the Democracy Solutions Summit, and why systems reform is the key to gender parity in U.S. politics.
Interview Host: CityBiz / The Fulcrum
Guest: Cynthia Richie Terrell — Founder & Executive Director, RepresentWomen; Co-founder, FairVote
Cynthia Richie Terrell, a longtime leader in U.S. democracy reform, joined CityBiz for a wide-ranging interview on why systems change is essential to building a healthier democracy. As founder of RepresentWomen, she has spearheaded the annual Gender Parity Index (GPI) and continues to advocate for reforms that ensure more women can run, win, serve, and lead.
Key topics in this conversation include:
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The journey from FairVote to RepresentWomen — why structural barriers, beyond voting systems, required a new organization dedicated to women’s representation.
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Kamala Harris’ candidacy and ripple effects — how high-profile women leaders influence enthusiasm down-ballot.
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Local pathways for change — the importance of city councils, commissions, and appointed boards as springboards for women’s leadership.
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Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) as a cornerstone reform — delivering majority winners, reducing toxic campaigns, and opening doors for multiple women to run without “splitting the vote.”
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The Democracy Solutions Summit — a three-day virtual forum featuring women leaders across democracy reform, focused squarely on solutions.
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Vision for 20 years from now — a democracy where collaboration, civility, and equity define governance.
Terrell emphasizes that without intentional reforms, the U.S. will continue to see uneven and stalled progress. Systems strategies such as RCV, proportional representation, and caregiving policies are needed in tandem with candidate support to finally close the parity gap.
Watch the full interview: CityBiz / Fulcrum: Cynthia Richie Terrell on Democracy Reform