I have been immersed in Democratic and labor politics for over 30 years of my professional life. I have been part of teams that advised national presidential campaigns, and I have advised state, local mayoral and city council campaigns. And in 2024, I became a candidate myself when I ran for the second highest office in the US Government; the United States Senate earning 2nd place in the NJ Democratic Primary Elections.
In summary, I have accomplished and learned a lot in the game of politics.
But let me be clear, in politics, like in any other profession, women must fight every day for a seat at the table, for respect for our ideas and for acknowledgement of our contributions as leaders in public service. It is indeed difficult to hold a full-time career, a family and stay engaged in civic activities.
All of it can be an exhausting game that most women don’t want to play, but the fact is that too few women serve in public office. Across all levels of office, women only comprise 29.5% of all office holders, and Latina women barely get to 7% of representation. These numbers look worse at the local level where women only represent 15% of elected positions.
Women are good in politics because we care about our families, our children’s future and our community’s success. Our society needs our voices and our skills and as exhausted as we feel after Kamala Harris lost the last presidential election, we must keep running for office and demanding representation.
If you are a woman with something to say, with ideas that can solve people’s problems, or just an activist or a businesswoman who wants to shake up the status quo, I encourage you to enter politics.
You can start by running for a local school board, city council, a legislative office or even a federal office; wherever you feel you can make a difference, just listen to that voice that says you can contribute and do it.
In the spirit of international women’s month, I offer the following tips based on my own experience demanding a seat at the table:
Be clear about why you are in the political game and be proud of it: You want to run for office? Awesome. Own it. Learn from the best political candidates and develop a strategy for yourself so that you can run your own campaign. Elections cost money, but just having money doesn’t guarantee a win. We need more working women in politics, not just billionaires and their friends. That is why, those of us who do not come from money, must learn the ropes of fundraising so we can be independent and advance the issues we care about. Let’s be clear though, women have a harder time raising money from big political party donors, so we must focus on small donations and a grassroots campaign. My grandpa, Papita Chema always said, “si les aceptas el dinero, te controlan,” or “whoever gives you the money, owns you.” So, spend time learning how to fundraise small donations and on expanding your base of small donors.
Identify your supporters, your tribe: You want a better school system? Do you want to make NJ fairer for women and small business to get access to investment funds? Great causes. Organize your network; your neighbors, your college friends, your sorority or fraternity and your local organizations. Become a member of your local political party and volunteer on local campaigns; that’s a way to know who the local activists are and what they care about. Ultimately, you need to make a strategic plan to expand your network of supporters and show up for their issues so you can become an advocate for the community you want to represent. And sign up for programs like CAWPs Ready to Run program, where you will meet other women who like you are interested in running for office or supporting those who do.
Be better prepared and always be willing to learn something new: Learn everything you need to know about your policy issues and be better prepared than others in the room. And if you don’t know something, read about it, listen to experts. Women must find the balance between being knowledgeable and not acting like a “know it all.”
Open Doors: Identify young operatives and put them to work on your campaign. We must build our own pipeline of campaign operatives and teach them the ropes so they can become your trusted team members as you build out a team to help you win. Hire new talent and help develop it.
Empower other women: Be intentional about having other women voices and experiences around you. Use the “shine theory” to build other women allies; if a woman has a great idea in a meeting, support it and give her credit for it. Only by building each other up, we build our influence and expand our network of women willing to support us.
Trust your instincts: Oprah says that women most powerful asset for success is our “gut feeling,” our instinct. We know people’s intentions right away in our gut, that place right above the top of your stomach that tingles when you know someone or something doesn’t feel right. When it happens to you, don’t ignore it. You must develop that capacity to build a team that you trust, that will have your back and will carry your vision forward.
At the end of the day, politics is like any other pursuit, if you do it from a place of purpose, you will figure out a way to be good at it. And like any other effort in life, you must have a strategy to build allies that can help you succeed.
Personally, I have accomplished more than I ever imagined growing up as a Latina immigrant woman in America. And as I continue in my path as an advocate for workers, unions and women, I keep Winston Churchill’s words as a mantra; “Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”
If you are passionate about advocating for others, I urge you to have the courage to enter politics. Build other women up and keep pushing until you get to your destination.
Now more than ever, our country and our state need more women in politics to advance a vision of inclusion and fairness in our Democracy.
We need more women to lead our towns, state and our nation and to get there, we need women to continue to have the courage to run, and keep on running, until we win.
Patricia Campos-Medina is a former candidate for the US Senate in NJ. She is the President of Latina Civic Action, and a board member of PODER PAC, two organizations advocating for more women in our politics. You can follow her on social media @DrCamposMedina
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March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women throughout history. In the realm of politics, women have made significant strides in recent years, breaking barriers and shattering glass ceilings. Insider NJ recently sat down with several prominent female politicians to discuss their thoughts on Women’s Month and the role of women in politics.
One of the key themes that emerged from these conversations was the importance of representation. As Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter pointed out, “It’s crucial for women to see themselves reflected in positions of power and leadership. When young girls see women in positions of authority, it sends a powerful message that they too can aspire to those roles.”
This sentiment was echoed by Senator Nia Gill, who emphasized the need for more women to run for office. “We need diverse voices at the table to ensure that all perspectives are taken into account when making important decisions,” she said.
In addition to representation, the politicians also discussed the challenges that women face in the political arena. Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez highlighted the issue of gender bias, noting that women are often held to different standards than their male counterparts. “We have to work twice as hard to prove ourselves and overcome stereotypes,” she said.
Despite these challenges, the women remained optimistic about the future of women in politics. Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle expressed confidence that progress is being made. “We have come a long way, but there is still work to be done. I believe that with determination and perseverance, we can continue to break down barriers and pave the way for future generations of women leaders,” she said.
As Women’s History Month comes to a close, it is important to reflect on the achievements of women in politics and continue to push for greater gender equality in all areas of society. The insights shared by these female politicians serve as a reminder of the importance of empowering women and ensuring that their voices are heard in the political process.
