Empowering Women in Politics: The Vote Run Lead initiative

By V.S. Santoni  Sabrina Shulman Credit: Timothy H. Raab Northern Photo & Sabrina Shulman, chief political officer at Vote Run Lead, and Erin Vilardi, the organization’s CEO and founder, illuminate the profound impact of Vote Run Lead in shaping the political landscape by empowering women to assume leadership roles across the United States. Vote Run Lead stands as a transformative force dedicated to fostering equitable representation in America’s statehouses. According to Vilardi and Shulman, the organization’s mission is “to unleash the political power of women as voters, candidates, and leaders to create an equitable democracy.” Reflecting on the organization’s impact, Shulman and Vilardi highlighted the story of Allie Phillips, a Vote Run Lead alumna, who recently embarked on a political journey following personal tragedy. Shulman emphasizes Phillips’s embodiment of the campaign approach and principles advocated by Vote Run Lead. Phillips’s narrative epitomizes the essence of “know your why” and “tell your story,” core tenets underscored by the organization. Acknowledging the historical strides of Black women in Congress and statehouses, Vilardi and Shulman pay tribute to trailblazers like Shirley Chisholm and Crystal Bird Fauset. Shulman accentuated Chisholm’s indomitable spirit, noting her unwavering commitment to breaking barriers in the face of adversity....