Vote Mama Monthly Newsletter
September 2023 Edition

Summer might be over, but things are just starting to heat up! With back-to-school season and legislative sessions starting back up, what does that mean for Vote Mama and everything we’re fighting for? It means that it’s officially game time. We’re on the ground, in the media, and providing critical resources to help our pro-choice Democratic mamas run competitive campaigns in battleground races and targeted seats across the country. Here’s a recap of the month!

ENDORSEMENTS:

We’ve endorsed nearly 100 pro-choice Democratic mom candidates for the 2023-2024 election cycle! We’re proud to have such a diverse bench of trailblazing mamas to bring much-needed representation to public office.

ICYMI: Check out some data on our mamas who are fighting to break barriers and make history!

• 22% are running to be the first woman to hold the seat
• 29% are running to be the first mom to hold the seat
• 43% are women of color
• 12% are LGBTQ+
• 23% are first generation college graduates

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT:

Vote Mama alum and North Carolina State Representative Julie von Haefen’s son, a freshman at the University of North Carolina, experienced his SECOND active shooter drill since beginning college. A day after, he and other students were mocked by NC Republicans for their activism to combat the gun violence epidemic.
 

But Julie is fighting back. She has introduced multiple gun safety bills since being elected to the state legislature and she is a proud supporter of North Carolina's Gun Violence Prevention Act.

For Rep. von Haefen and so many of our other mamas, fighting back against gun violence is personal. Our kids deserve better than to live under constant threat, and we’re so proud that our candidates and alumni are standing up to protect our kids, our schools, and our communities.

VOTE MAMA IN THE MEDIA:

• Vote Mama Chief Program Officer, Sarah Hague, spoke to Spectrum News’ Capital Tonight about the importance of encouraging and supporting moms running for office through policy change and state legislative modernization in New York.

“Hague said the ‘system wasn’t made for moms’ but work is being done at the state level to help moms run for office by allowing them to use campaign funds for childcare.”

• Vote Mama Foundation is teaming up with legislators across the country to allow candidates to use campaign donations for childcare, helping 29 states authorize Campaign Funds for Childcare, so far! This month, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission announced it will explore allowing candidates to use their campaign funds for childcare after a formal request was issued from State Sen. Jessica Garvin. Learn more about how this work can build a more representative democracy ➡️

• Beginning on September 30, states will face a drastic drop in federal childcare funding. With this “childcare cliff” as it’s being called, over 3 million children will lose access to childcare nationwide with 70,000 childcare programs likely to close.

This is sure to have devastating ripple effects for parents forced out of work and state economies that will lose tax revenue and jobs in the childcare sector as a result. Vote Mama Lobby Board Member Julie Kashen of the Century Foundation is raising the alarm on how severely this will impact families. She was featured in a News Nation segment addressing the critical issue. Watch the segment and learn more about the childcare cliff funding >>

YOUR ACTION NEEDED:

Election Day is right around the corner on November 7. Early voting in Virginia, where abortion rights are hanging by a thread, has already begun. It’s urgent that we build enough momentum to get these mamas elected, and we simply cannot do that without your grassroots support. Time is running out to have an impact on the 2023 elections and beyond. Please, John, can you rush a contribution of any amount right now to help our pro-choice Democratic moms get elected? Pitch in now! >>

If you've saved payment info with ActBlue Express Lane, we will process your gift instantly with one click!

Vote Mama is the first PAC in the country dedicated to increasing the political power of Democratic moms. We believe that our country needs more moms representing our neighborhoods, our communities, and our families because we know that they are dedicated to investing in equitable solutions for future generations to come. Vote Mama helps moms break barriers to running for office by disrupting the systems that hold women back through providing direct financial support, mentorship, and endorsements.

Pitch in today to help us elect more moms to be the voice of our communities and keep our families safe >>