Why aren’t more moms running for office? One group is hoping to change that

Moms are a political force in voting but are underrepresented as candidates. In an interview with NPR, Batten School Professor Jennifer Lawless shares some ideas about that disparity.

A mom votes Vote Mama Foundation and the Vote Mama PAC, organizations dedicated to getting mothers, specifically Democrats, elected to public office.

“It’s critical that we are also teaching our children that running for office is just what moms do, that they should be civically engaged, that it’s fun, and that it’s easy,” Grechen Shirley said.

It’s a message that’s hard to get into the minds of women even now in 2022. This year, there are a record number of women who are nominees in races for governor and state legislatures, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.

Women — even more so those with young children — are still in the minority, Vote Mama’s research shows. This is despite the proven political power of mothers, University of Virginia a politics professor Jennifer Lawless said.

Related News

Explore The Latest
News and Information

  • UVA Hydra: Where Seven Heads are Better than One
    Student Stories
    UVA Hydra: Where Seven Heads are Better than One

    UVA Batten students on the Women's Ultimate Frisbee Team, Hydra, find commonality and balance amidst their academic pursuits and competing on this nationally ranked team.

    Learn More
  • UVA Batten 2026 Legacy Awards
    Student Stories
    UVA Batten 2026 Legacy Awards

    Each year, the Batten Undergraduate Council invites students, faculty, and staff to make nominations for its Legacy Awards, given in five categories to honor graduating Bachelor of Arts students who have demonstrated leadership at the Batten School. Each of these awards reflect the virtues and experiences that distinguished Frank Batten, Sr. throughout his inspirational life.

    Learn More
  • 2026 Citizen Leadership Medalist Henry Louis Gates, Jr. to Visit UVA Batten
    Accolades
    2026 Citizen Leadership Medalist Henry Louis Gates, Jr. to Visit UVA Batten

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is the 2026 recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Citizen Leadership, which is the highest external honor bestowed by the University and recognizes the achievements of luminaries who embrace endeavors in which Jefferson excelled and held in high regard.

    Learn More