Today marks 100 years since the adoption of the 19th Amendment, which enshrined in the Constitution a woman’s right to vote.

I grew up learning about the suffragists—like Sojourner Truth and Elizabeth Cady Stanton—and their deep-rooted history right here in New York. The 19th Amendment’s passage was the result of their decades of strategy and sacrifice.

But today is also a reminder of where we have fallen short: The 19th Amendment failed to guarantee the right to vote for all women. Women of color faced barriers to voting through racist voter suppression and gerrymandering for decades following its passage, and millions of Black and brown Americans face those same barriers today.

We asked some of our Off the Sidelines candidates to share what the 19th Amendment’s passage means to them—and how they’re committed to the never-ending struggle to protect and expand voting rights for all Americans.

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read what they have to say—and then consider supporting Off the Sidelines so we can elect more bold, brave and trailblazing women who will change the face of leadership in Washington.

With gratitude,
Kirsten


————————————————————————————————————————————


Joyce Elliot (AR-02): "The story of America is too often a story of progress teased then taken away. A movement billed as women's suffrage turned out to have an asterisk: it was only for some women. My career in public service—as a teacher and state legislator—has been about pushing us to become a more perfect Union, and I am fighting to make sure that progress is delivered without an asterisk."

Sara Gideon (ME-Sen): “Voting is a foundational right in our democracy, a key way we make our voices heard and demand change. As I think about the anniversary of the 19th Amendment that gave white women that essential freedom, I‘m also struck by how many people were left behind by that historic achievement—and how much farther we have to go. We must continue fighting to protect the right to vote, especially for communities of color that have been systematically disenfranchised.”

Kathy Manning (NC-06): “Our fight for voting rights is far from over. This year, we are witnessing record lines, malfunctioning voting machines, and an assault on the U.S. Postal Service ahead of what will be the largest number of mail-in ballots cast for any U.S. election. We have the opportunity to make history again by voting in record numbers to make our voices heard and by electing women to office—from the school board to the office of the Vice President. Let’s make history together and honor those women who worked so hard to achieve the right to vote one hundred years ago."

MJ Hegar (TX-Sen): Generations of Americans fought to secure and protect the right to vote. 100 years after the enactment of the 19th Amendment, we're still fighting efforts to suppress that sacred right—but now, we can elect a wave of women up and down the ballot who will fight like hell to defend it.

Quinn Nystrom (MN-08): The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote, but it didn't include all women. Women of color didn’t have that right for years after. Today, we're still fighting for true women's equality in areas like pay, housing, healthcare, representation, employment, and more. In Minnesota's 8th district, I’m fighting to become the first woman to ever represent our district. So while we take today to celebrate the achievements of years past, let's also remember how much more work we have to do.

Pat Timmons-Goodson (NC-08): Let us remember that the fight for voting rights did not end in 1920. It was not until 1965 with the passage of the Voting Rights Act that African American women realistically gained the suffrage. One hundred years later, we still grapple with consequences of unconstitutional racial gerrymandering, discriminatory access to the ballot, and a weakened Voting Rights Act. These were the issues I dealt with as the vice-chairwoman of the US Commission on Civil Rights. I understand the consequences of voter suppression, but I also know the solutions our federal government must take to make sure every person can cast their ballot. In Congress, I will make sure we uphold and restore voting protections.

Wendy Davis (TX-21): The fight for gender equality would not be possible had it not been for the women who fought to assure our right to vote 100 years ago; though it was only a starting point, leaving women of color behind for the next 44 years until the passage of the Voting Rights Act. If we own the voting responsibility gained through those hard-fought battles, this next congress could provide us the opportunity to realize the FULL promise of equality our foremothers sought to assure—through protection of reproductive rights and maternal healthcare, subsidies for childcare, pay equity, and paid sick and family leave.


Paid for by Gillibrand for Senate


Contributions or gifts to Off the Sidelines PAC are not tax-deductible. Off the Sidelines PAC does not accept contributions from federal lobbyists, corporate and/or trade association PACs, or "for profit" business entities, including but not limited to sole proprietorships, partnerships, and LLCs.

We’d hate to see you go, but if you want to stop receiving messages from Kirsten altogether, you can unsubscribe here: unsubscribe: [link removed]