Dear Readers,
Last week was the American Democracy Summit (ADS) in Phoenix, AZ! Those three days served as a fantastic opportunity to connect with individuals across the democracy space committed to building a stronger, more effective government-including organizations working to protect the integrity of every vote,, take dark money out of politics, and so much more.
The key takeaway, though, from events like ADS is the need to build an active, engaging, and sustainable community working towards a common goal. For women and individuals committed to increasing women’s representation, that need for local community and intentionality is even stronger. On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed a sweeping budget bill slashing funding to programs that support millions of women, including SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid. Without strong local ties and a pipeline of talented women running for office at the local, state, and national levels, we won’t have a government that protects the needs of all people.
At RepresentWomen, we recently rebranded our Women’s Power Collaborative to make it even easier for women and allies nationwide to connect and brainstorm ways to build women’s political power. The WPC is the only secure national-level body preparing individual candidates to run for office with systems strategies that remove barriers and create the ecosystem necessary for their success. It fills an important gap in the women’s representation space by addressing individual candidates' needs within the broader context of our country’s complicated political structure.
Regional groups meet every other month to foster local community building. And, every month, there is a different lunch-and-learn on a topic relevant to women looking to work in politics or run for office themselves. If you want to build a community with like-minded individuals, this space is for you!
One significant milestone in women’s representation this week is Amelia Earhart becoming the first woman to fly nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean on May 21. 1932. Birthdays to celebrate include Lorraine Hansberry, the first Black woman to write a Broadway play (A Raisin in the Sun), former Utah legislator Rebecca Chavez-Houck Kansas Representative Sharice Davids, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, and Arabella Mansfield, the first woman lawyer admitted to the Iowa Bar in 1846.
Barbara Lee Showing a Unifying Leadership Style in Oakland
Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee holds a press conference in Oakland. Source: KQED News
Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee ran a positive, unifying campaign for mayor of Oakland in a special election this spring, winning the ranked-choice voting contest in first-choice votes, even as she campaigned collaboratively with several other candidates. As mayor, Lee is planning approaches that may be consistent with the incentives of the RCV system. See this KQED story on Barbara Lee, Oakland’s Next Mayor, Is Ready to ‘Govern in a New Way’:
“Lee, 78, said her transition team has been busy assembling working groups to help address the bevy of formidable challenges the city faces. The groups will consist of “community members, nonprofit leaders, people who have the pulse of Oakland and what needs to be done in terms of our 100-day plan,” said Lee…“These working groups are going to be essential to how we govern in a new way,” Lee said.
Asked about her top priorities, Lee recited a laundry list of critical issues, including public safety, affordable housing, homelessness and encampments, and economic development. “It’s a big agenda,” she acknowledged. “But it’s an agenda that everybody in the city can embrace.”
During her campaign, which focused on a message of unity at a time of bitter political division in the city, Lee emphasized her congressional track record of bringing federal funding to Oakland, while also pledging to use her political connections to generate more investment for the city through public-private partnerships.”
2025 Set to Break Record for Women Governors
Rep. Mikie Sherrill, left, and former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli. Source: Kevin Sanders for the New Jersey Globe
With Rep. Mikie Sherrill likely to win New Jersey’s Democratic gubernatorial primary and heavily favored in the general election, the U.S. is on track to reach a new milestone in women’s executive leadership.
Sherrill is emerging as the Democratic frontrunner in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race. According to a recent Emerson College Polling survey in conjunction with Pix11 and The Hill, conducted from May 11 to 13, Sherrill leads the Democratic primary with 28% support, a significant 18-point increase since January. Her surge is notably strong among voters over 50 (33%) and those with a college degree (31%). Sherrill would become the first woman elected governor in New Jersey in her own right.
In Virginia, both major parties have nominated women for governor, guaranteeing the election of the state's first woman governor. If Sherrill secures victory in New Jersey, 2025 will mark a historic high for the number of women serving simultaneously as U.S. governors (13), surpassing the previous record of 12.
This anticipated milestone reflects a significant shift in executive leadership representation, signaling progress toward greater gender parity in political offices. If both Sherrill and Virginia’s winner take office in January 2025, the number of women governors serving simultaneously would rise to an all-time high. While still far from gender parity, this moment marks significant progress in breaking executive glass ceilings and reshaping who holds power at the state level. The 2025 landscape may also set the stage for more women entering presidential and national leadership conversations in 2026 and beyond.
Historic Leadership in Enfield: Cllr Margaret Greer Sworn In as Mayor
Cllr Margaret Greer has been sworn in as the new Mayor of Enfield. Source: Enfield Council
Cllr Margaret Greer has been sworn in as the new Mayor of Enfield for the 2025–26 municipal year, marking a significant moment in the borough's history. In her inaugural address, Mayor Greer emphasized her commitment to serving Enfield's diverse community with "faith, compassion, and devotion," pledging to ensure that every resident feels "seen, heard, and valued."
Throughout her term, Mayor Greer will support three charities: the Enfield Sickle Cell Society, the Enfield Black Heritage Hub, and Macmillan Cancer Support. These selections reflect her dedication to health equity and cultural inclusion within the borough.
Mayor Greer's appointment underscores the growing representation of Black Caribbean women in UK local government, signaling progress toward more inclusive leadership at all levels.
Portugal’s Parliamentary Elections: A New Political Era, But Gender Parity Still Stalls
Portugal’s recent parliamentary elections have redrawn the country’s political map, with major implications for both party dynamics and democratic representation. The center-right Democratic Alliance (AD), led by Luís Montenegro, won 89 seats with 32.7% of the vote, more than any other party but still short of a majority in the 230-seat Assembly. The far-right Chega party, led by André Ventura, made historic gains, surging to 58 seats and matching the Socialist Party, which had governed since 2015.
The dramatic rise of Chega, running on a platform focused on anti-immigration, nationalism, and law and order, signals Portugal’s entry into the broader European trend of far-right momentum. Political instability looms, with no clear path to a governing coalition and mounting concern over what role, if any, the far right will play in the new government.
Despite the election’s high stakes and political volatility, one key measure of democratic inclusion remained unchanged: the number of women in parliament. Out of 226 seats filled in Sunday’s election, 76 will be held by women, the exact number elected in the previous parliament. That equates to just over 33%, above the global average, but well below parity.
This static number highlights both the effectiveness and the limits of Portugal’s gender quota law, which requires parties to ensure that at least 33% of their candidates are women. While the law has prevented backsliding, it hasn’t spurred further gains. As Chega becomes more influential, a party known for promoting traditionalist values and having the lowest proportion of female MPs, the future of inclusive policymaking and gender equality in governance may be further challenged.
As Australia and the U.S. experience increases in the number and influence of women in elected positions, Portugal’s outcomes remind us that achieving parity involves more than just quotas; it necessitates political will, a commitment from parties, and active voter participation.
Canada's Voter Gender Divide: Implications for Political Representation
A recent analysis in The Conversation explores the growing gender divide in Canadian voting patterns and its potential impact on the nation's political future. The piece highlights how women and men in Canada are increasingly supporting different political parties, with women more likely to vote for progressive parties and men leaning towards conservative options. This divergence not only influences election outcomes but also shapes policy priorities and party platforms.
The article underscores the importance for political parties to recognize and address this divide, suggesting that understanding the distinct concerns and values of different gender groups is crucial for electoral success and effective governance. As Canada continues to strive for greater representation and inclusivity, acknowledging and bridging this gender gap becomes essential.
“The 2025 election did more than reveal a partisan split; it exposed fundamentally different visions of Canada’s future between men and women… Gender divides in politics often mirror divisions in online discourse. Social media platforms tend to reinforce gendered political identities, with men more likely to be drawn into algorithm-driven spaces that amplify anti-establishment and masculinist narratives. These digital bubbles not only reflect polarization — they entrench it, merging political and online identities in ways that make cross-cutting dialogue harder to achieve.”
African Union Champions Women's Political Participation in Malawi Ahead of 2025 Elections
In a significant move to bolster women's roles in governance, the African Union (AU) has engaged stakeholders in Malawi to promote women's political participation ahead of the country's 2025 general elections. The initiative, led by the AU's Women, Gender and Youth Directorate, aims to address the underrepresentation of women in political leadership and decision-making positions.
The AU's efforts align with its broader commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women across the continent, as outlined in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. By fostering inclusive political processes, the AU seeks to ensure that women's voices are heard and represented in Malawi's democratic institutions.
This engagement underscores the importance of collaborative efforts between international organizations, national governments, and civil society to create an enabling environment for women's active participation in politics.
Australia Elects Its Most Diverse Parliament Yet
Australia's 2025 federal election has ushered in the nation's most diverse parliament to date, marking significant strides in representation. The 48th Parliament boasts the highest number of women ever elected, with over 55% of Labor MPs and senators being women, up from 53% in 2022.
This election also saw increased multicultural representation. Notably, Ash Ambihaipahar, a lawyer of Sri Lankan Tamil heritage, won the seat of Barton, reflecting the growing diversity within Australia's political landscape.
While these advancements are commendable, challenges remain. The cabinet's diversity has not significantly changed since the previous term, and Australia's parliament still lags behind countries like Canada and New Zealand in terms of reflecting its multicultural society.
Nevertheless, the 2025 election results signify a meaningful shift toward a more inclusive and representative governance, aligning Australia's political institutions more closely with its diverse population.
Reykjavík Index 2024-2025: Iceland Leads as Global Gender Equality in Leadership Declines
The newly released 2024-2025 Reykjavík Index for Leadership reveals a continued global decline in perceptions of gender equality in leadership. The Index, which measures societal comfort with women and men in leadership across 23 sectors, shows that while attitudes toward female political leaders in the G7 remain similar to 2018 levels, acceptance of women in corporate leadership remains low, averaging only 50%. The data was presented at the Reykjavík Global Forum in November 2024. Iceland remains an outlier by maintaining a score of 87.
Read the full index here:
The Reykjavik Index serves to provide evidence to support the quality of debate on gender equality in society. It helps us understand the nature of prejudice that women, and men, experience in their journey to leadership. Over the last seven years the data has shown us that equality will not arrive simply through time. Indeed, current trends are driving towards higher levels of discrimination.
New Federal Law Targets Nonconsensual Intimate Images with Swift Takedown Mandate
Credit: Joyful Heart Foundation
A new bill was signed into law this week by President Donald Trump. The Take It Down Act, criminalizes the non consensual distribution of intimate imagery, including AI-generated deepfakes and so-called “revenge porn.” The law requires establishing a system to remove such content within 48 hours of a verified request, though they have one year to implement these systems
Jasmine Mithani writes for The 19th:
The law is meant to narrowly cover sexually explicit images that have either been shared without the subject’s consent or images that have been created without the consent of the subject, such as with generative AI or through media manipulation.
The definition of sexually explicit content builds on previous federal code, and includes “the uncovered genitals, pubic area, anus or post-pubescent female nipple of an identifiable individual;” the “display or transfer of bodily sexual fluids;” graphic sexual intercourse; bestiality; masturbation; sadistic or masochistic abuse; and “graphic or simulated lascivious exhibition” of anuses, genitals or the pubic area.
Synthetic images, or “digital forgeries” as the bill labels them, must be of “indistinguishable from an authentic visual depiction” of an identifiable individual.
The definition is tailored to not apply to all digital forgeries, even ones that might seem explicit on the surface. For instance, advocates have pointed out that the viral fake video of Trump licking Elon Musk’s feet wouldn’t necessarily qualify for removal or prosecution under the Take It Down Act.
Ohio Senators Prohibit RCV
As Boston’s City Council advanced legislation to implement RCV, Ohio took a step backward earlier this week. Ohio Senators have effectively prohibited RCV, threatening to withhold state revenue for local municipalities that move to implement ranked-choice voting. Currently, there is no companion legislation in the Ohio House of Representatives.
Richard Eberwein writes for WCPT 820 Radio:
Although SB 63 does not outright ban the practice of ranked choice voting, it threatens to withhold funding from local governments or municipalities that use the system. SB 63 was co-sponsored by Sens. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) and Bill DeMora (D-Columbus), who argue that ranked choice voting is too confusing and can cause delays in election results.
“Ranked choice voting flies in the face of that commonsense work by causing greater uncertainty and delayed election results that can take days or even weeks to settle,” Gavarone reportedly said.
Rank the Vote Ohio has pushed back on these claims, citing positive exit poll results from voters who used the system in Minnesota, Alaska and Utah. The organization also argues the results can be calculated just as fast as plurality, first-past-the-post voting. Still, ranked choice voting came under fire in 2021 after it took 14 days for the Associated Press to declare Eric Adams the winner of the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, stemming from a tabulation error by the New York City Board of Elections.
That's all for this week. Have a great long weekend!
P.S.
Join the Women’s Power Collaborative on Thursday, May 29th, from 2:00 PM—3:00 PM ET for a lunch and learn! This month will celebrate and highlight Asian American women in various levels of government and advocacy.
Speakers for Hurdles & Horizons: Amplifying Visibility for Asian American Women include:
- Ria Deshmukh, RepresentWomen’s Digital Media Manager,
- Ellie Sato, Maine State Representative,
- Ruwa Romman, Georgia State Representative, and
- Isha Jadhav, J.D. Candidate at American University Washington College of Law.