Since Election Day, I’ve cycled through a whirlwind of emotions and tried to make sense of it all. In this time of unprecedented division, when hope felt within reach—the chance to elect the first woman president—history took a familiar turn and, once again, did not break that ultimate glass ceiling.
But history also teaches us that meaningful change is rarely linear. It’s slow, uneven and complicated—especially when women don’t speak with one voice. Progress requires resilience, grit and an unwavering commitment to push through hard times. Taking action is key. And as hard as it can be, the effort is always worth it, even when it’s hard to see.
With a woman of color leading a major party ticket, two Black women elected to the Senate, the first transgender woman in Congress and a record number of women governors, this election showed us both the power and the fragility of progress.
However, women’s political power is at significant risk of stalling—even sliding backward. A report we released in July 2024 found that, while 66.3 percent of women indicated that they are less likely to consider running for office because politics seems toxic, almost the same proportion—63.43 percent—ranked either bringing change to their community or pursuing issues they care about as the top reason that would motivate them to consider running.
With headlines of recent gains in representation, some assume that the fight for equal representation has been won everywhere except the office of the president. Unfortunately, that couldn’t be further from the truth. While the final tally isn’t yet clear, it’s increasingly likely that women’s representation could suffer a setback as a result of the 2024 election. Women’s representation has remained stagnant at just below 30 percent across all levels of government, and our own research has shown that it takes a woman about four years, on average, to make the decision to put her name on the ballot.
While women cite a decreased likelihood of running for office due to political dysfunction, they continue to actively support and take action for their communities on important issues—further highlighting the disconnect women feel between their own civic engagement and the impact they could have as elected officials. We have an uphill battle that takes time, during a point in history where the toxic nature of politics is having negative effects on women’s consideration of elected office overall. But the key takeaway? We aren’t giving up.
Meaningful change is both challenging and slow. If we want more women to step up and lead in the future, we must help them see the possibility now, even if “now” feels impossible. This moment is about more than a single election outcome; it’s about igniting a fire within—a spark that may feel small today but holds the potential to grow into something unstoppable.
At She Should Run, our mission isn’t tied to whether a woman wins or loses—it’s about helping her see herself as fully capable, qualified and motivated to run in the first place. This is no small task in a landscape that leaves so many women feeling disheartened, disenfranchised, and perhaps forgotten.
Just last month, our team launched a campaign called VOTE, AND to help women connect the dots between their everyday actions and their political power. From guided meditations in the days prior to the election to tools that enable discussions and activities with children about civic engagement, we put a diverse collection of resources into the world for this very reason—to help women see their everyday actions are political and take that first step to explore what their own political leadership could look like.
What we saw was actually quite remarkable. Within 24 hours of the election being called, She Should Run saw a staggering nearly 750 percent increase in the number of women taking first steps to explore their potential future in elected leadership. In a time of grave uncertainty, one thing remains steadfast: When the going gets tough, women take action.
In recent years, She Should Run has reached more than 130,000 women from diverse backgrounds, many of whom hadn’t considered running before. After engaging with our resources, nearly half say they’re more likely to run. We are widening the pool of possibilities for hundreds of thousands of women, but we need more, not less, who are willing to join the fight. We need everyone to step up with us and participate in the work of elevating women for the betterment of us all.
I got into gender equity work because I believe in a future fueled by unlimited possibilities, care for one another and joy. I’ve stayed because the world still hasn’t caught up with telling my daughters—and all young women and girls—they can be anything they want to be. I won’t give up, because this work is unfinished and worth every single minute of the fight.
We don’t pretend to have all the answers, but we do have a responsibility to show up for ourselves and each other, especially when things feel uncertain. The days, weeks and months ahead will be spent listening to the needs of our community in order to serve women from all walks of life whose voices are desperately needed in all levels of elected office. All of us must be prepared for the work to change drastically. How could it not?
In times of struggle, sustained commitment is more important than ever. We can’t give up hope now with so much work left to be done. So, take this as your moment to consider your own future and the role you will play. Encourage a woman to consider her potential, take whatever time you need to refuel and make a commitment to lead, even if it’s in future elections. Our communities need you.
