November 6th is Election Day. There isn’t a catchy line or an intriguing hook that can properly convey how important this day is. There is a lot at stake, and we all know what those things are: preserving access to health care, protecting immigrant communities, addressing climate change, and so much more. This November also marks my son, Max’s, 5th birthday, which means that I have surpassed my 4th year as Executive Director at CPEHN. It has been a while since I have written a reflection to share, which is due to a mix of being busy beyond belief, personally and professionally, and because some days it is hard to think about where we are as a nation.
When I think about what this election means, I think about Max and his future. He now understands a lot and asks so many questions. If we start on a political topic, he is often quick to stop playing and get in on the conversation. At times his questions catch me off guard and make me proud of his curiosity and interest. “Mom, will I get to vote?” “Mom, who gets to change the laws?” “Mom, why do we treat immigrants so mean?” We are at that point in his development where we often have to keep the news off at night so he doesn’t worry, and because the type of leadership that we often witness is the opposite of what we are trying to teach Max. Early childhood development sets the foundation for growth, learning, and socio-emotional development. And, children often mimic what they see right in front of them. I often catch my no-so-great habits by watching my son repeat things I do; such as yelling across the room instead of walking over to have a conversation or realizing why he doesn’t hang up his coat when mine is hastily hung over the back of the dining chair. It is when I hear him recall a day at school – when someone was mean or didn’t play with him or when a child was excluded – that I think about the importance of leadership. So, while this election is about critical policy issues, to me it more about leadership and how our leaders show up for those who are most vulnerable, or how they are NOT doing that. When I think about who I hope Max will become, I want him to emulate leaders who are kind, understanding, caring, and who believe that everyone deserves dignity, care, and love. We try to explain things to Max in a way that will get him to see how his reactions or actions make others feel. To help him act from a place of empathy, understanding, and respect. When I think of his future, and millions of other children, elders, and families, I know that it is vital, vital, that we show up and make our voices heard on November 6th.
Another reason to show up on election day is HOPE. There are many reasons to be hopeful. Across the nation, candidates of color are running for office and if elected they are posed to represent diverse communities. Headlines like, “The groundbreaking diversity of 2018′s field of female gubernatorial nominees” paint a picture of the midterm elections that is inspiring. We are seeing a groundswell of political action all over the nation. I want to call out some of these amazing people who are running for office so that while you are watching election returns on November 6th, you know who to keep an eye out for.
At the national level, we have an unprecedented number of candidates of color running for office and if elected many would be a “first” in the nation: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would be the youngest women ever elected to Congress if chosen to represent New York’s 14th Congressional District. Deb Haaland, running in New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District, could be the first Native American women to serve in Congress. Ayanna Pressley, already the first African American women to serve on Boston’s City Council, could be Massachusetts’ first African American congresswoman, representing Massachusetts’ 7th district. Gina Ortiz Jones could be the first Filipina-American elected to the US House of Representatives, if she wins her race for the Texas 23rd. She’d also be the first openly gay woman elected to Congress by Texas voters. If elected to represent Michigan’s 13th, Rashida Tlaib could become the first Muslim woman in Congress.
Of the 50 governors in America, 44 are male and 47 are white. This fall, there are 9 candidates of color running for state governor that could greatly shift the representation of executive offices in this nation. These are the candidates to keep an eye on: Andrew Gillum in Florida, Stacey Abrams in Georgia, David Garcia in Arizona, David Ige and Andria Tupola in Hawaii, Paulette Jordan in Idaho, Ben Jealous in Maryland, Michelle Lujan Grisham in New Mexico, and Lupe Valdez in Texas. Many of these candidates are already making history, Valdez being the first member of the LGBTQ community to be nominated for governor of Texas by a major party. Gillum is the first African-American candidate to win a major party nomination in Florida. Jordan is the first women to be nominated for governor by the Democratic Party in Idaho. If victorious, Jordan would become the first Native American governor in the nation and if Abrams wins her race, she would become the first African-American female governor in the nation.
In California, we can also be proud of our candidate pool. A recent report by the Reflective Democracy Campaign shows that California has one of the highest increases in diverse candidates in the nation. From 2016-2018, there was a close to 40% increase in candidates of color and close to 60% increase in women candidates.
On November 6th, we have the opportunity to decide who is representing us. And, we have the chance to make history and move towards a more representative politics. Candidates are showing up all over the country, from all parts of the political spectrum, with histories and life experiences that look like our own. Now it’s time to vote our values, our hearts, and our future!
Election Day is November 6th and we have exciting reasons to show up. You can vote in person and click here to find your polling place. Ride sharing apps UBER and LYFT are offering low cost or free rides to your polling place on Election Day. However, you can also vote by mail.