Cut to six years later, as we approached the 2022 midterm elections, I fought a familiar sense of doom; terrified of the “red wave” pundits were expecting. With my anxiety mounting, I reminded myself that I did everything I could have done — I made donations, I wrote letters, I worked day in and day out to share information and resources on Her Bold Move’s social media platforms. Still, I stayed glued to my phone to check the predictions and scroll through Twitter, grasping onto anything that would make me feel optimistic.

As the night pressed on, I started to feel like I could breathe again.

A smile broke across my face when MSNBC called the Vermont congressional race for Becca Balint, who would soon become the first female and openly LGBTQ congressmember in the state’s history. It felt like a good omen — and it was.

November 8, 2022 left us with some major wins: Ruwa Romman made history as the first known Muslim woman elected to Georgia’s state house, Karen Bass became the first female mayor of Los Angeles, Kathy Hochul became the first woman elected to the New York governorship, Maura Healey became the first woman elected to the governorship of Massachusetts and the first of two out lesbian governors (along with Oregon’s Tina Kotek), Katie Hobbs won the gubernatorial race in Arizona, and Gretchen Whitmer was elected alongside a fully Democratic-controlled state government (for the first time since the early 1980s). In five states where abortion rights were on the ballot, voters turned out to enshrine reproductive rights into law and block abortion bans.

Although there were some disappointing losses (too many of our incredible candidates lost by slim margins), women – and women’s rights – won big. It was a complete rebuttal of the “women aren’t electable” myth of 2016 and 2020 and a rebuke of the argument that overturning Roe wouldn’t have an impact in the voting booth.

When I went to work that dreary November morning in 2016, I felt defeated. The unbridled optimism I’d been happily living with was crushed. I started working nonstop to create a more equal and equitable world — but I was fighting angrily from a place of bitterness and fear.

Working with Her Bold Move has washed away some of that outrage. It polished the rough indignation into determination. The candidates we’ve worked with have reignited the flame of inspiration with their unabashed belief in our nation’s ability to change. Being surrounded by ambitious, motivated, optimistic women has altered my view of the future. For the first time since Hillary Clinton’s concession speech, I feel hopefulness creeping back up inside me.

It’s been six long years, but I’ve finally started to feel good about her closing remarks: “To all the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.”

When they saw my text on November 9, 2016, my parents responded with the hard truth: “You need to get ready to fight harder… the hard work is just beginning.”

They were — and still are — right. We still have a long way to go and a lot of work to do. But for me, and thanks in large part to my involvement with Her Bold Move, the fight finally feels winnable again.

Thank you for your time,

Ileana Paules-Bronet
Social Media Director
Her Bold Move

P.S. We have an opportunity to send women to office who will protect and promote issues that matter to us. With your help, we can ensure that our endorsed candidates have everything they need for the 2023 elections and beyond. Rush a $15 contribution right away →