Okay ladies, gentlemen, and non-binaries – let’s talk politics. I am going preface this article by stating that I am a Democrat and I believe in the resilience and spunk of women of all nationalities, races, orientations, and political beliefs. So yes, I was disappointed when former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton (or as I like to call her, “Hillz yeah!”), didn’t break the glass ceiling and assume office as the 45th President of the United States. However, the 2017 elections weren’t a failure on the path to gender equality. So without further ado, here are some pretty cool women who are making their voices heard in Washington D.C. and around the country, and who give intersectional feminism a killer name.
Name: Kate Brown
State: Oregon
Position: Governor of Oregon
Party: Democratic
Priorities: Raising high school graduation rates, environmental protection
Accomplishments: Passed paid sick leave and raised the Oregon minimum wage
Why she matters: She is the first openly bi-sexual woman elected to Congress.
Name: Ilhan Omar
State: Minnesota
Position: United States House Representative for District 60B
Party: Democratic (Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party)
Priorities: A “cradle-to-career” approach to education for all and a criminal justice system that puts an emphasis on rehabilitation and mental health
What she has accomplished: Banned environmentally harmful containers and passed the first piece of legislation ever to accommodate Muslims in the workforce during Ramadan by extending their hours by 35, paid parental leave for city employees
Why she matters: She is the first Somali-American Muslim to hold office at her level.
Name: Stephanie Murphy
State: Florida
Position: United States House Representative for District 7
Party: Democratic
Priorities: Environmental reform and protection laws, an annual budget in Congress and control of deficit spending, and comprehensive immigration reform
What has she accomplished: Supporting small businesses and business reforms in the state of Florida, advocating for veterans
Why she matters: She is the first Vietnamese-American woman elected to Congress (in addition, her parents were rescued at sea by the U.S. Navy after fleeing Communist Vietnam and worked hard to give her the life she has, inspiring her career in politics).
Name: Jaime Herrera Beutler
State: Washington
Position: United States House Representative for District 3
Party: Republican
Priorities: Encourage S.T.E.M. education in schools, and protect and preserve the environment
What she has accomplished: Raises awareness about maternity care in the United States and works to advocate for females of both parties
Why she matters: First Hispanic to represent Washington State in Congress as well as one of the youngest women in Congress
All research was done on the official websites of each of the aforementioned women.