Day Three of the Democracy Solutions Summit focused on building women’s political power in Congress, with bipartisan experts highlighting solutions from election security to child care, paid leave, and electoral reform.
The final day of RepresentWomen’s 2025 Democracy Solutions Summit spotlighted the urgent need to strengthen women’s political power in Congress and across the federal government. With national priorities rapidly shifting, panelists brought bipartisan expertise to explore practical reforms that ensure women can run, win, serve, and lead at the highest levels.
The day opened with remarks from RepresentWomen board member Reina Shah, who drew on her Capitol Hill experience to emphasize why women must step into congressional leadership “now more than ever.” The first expert discussion, featuring Amber McReynolds and Kate Conley, unpacked election administration and security. They highlighted how over 80% of local election officials are women and stressed the importance of funding, transparency, and resilience in safeguarding democracy.
A second panel, moderated by Liuba Grechen Shirley of Vote Mama, brought together Rep. Jennifer McClellan (VA), Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner (MomsRising), and Dawn Huckelbridge (Paid Leave for All) to examine childcare and paid family leave as essential infrastructure for democracy. The conversation underscored how structural barriers — from unaffordable childcare to lack of paid leave — prevent mothers from serving and sustaining political careers.
Next, RepresentWomen Executive Director Cynthia Richie Terrell was joined by Meredith Sumpter (FairVote) and Eileen Reavey (Rank the Vote) to discuss electoral reforms like proportional ranked-choice voting and the Fair Representation Act. The panel highlighted how systems change can create more competitive elections and lead to more women, younger leaders, and diverse voices in Congress.
The summit concluded with a bipartisan conversation led by Suzanne Wofford (Running Start), featuring Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA), Betsy Wright Hawkins (Article One Advisors), and Jennifer Pierotti Lim (Republican Women for Progress). Together, they highlighted how bipartisanship and women’s leadership can break gridlock and build trust in government.
Closing reflections from Cynthia Richie Terrell and Winnie Chen (Democracy Fund) called on philanthropy, movement leaders, and voters alike to sustain momentum. The takeaway was clear: systemic reforms, paired with women’s lived leadership, are essential to building a representative and resilient democracy.