Women’s Groups to 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidates: Select a Woman for VP, Pledge to Appoint Women to At Least Half of Cabinet Positions

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WASHINGTON – A coalition of women’s groups and progressive advocacy organizations, including American Federation of Teachers, EMILY’s List, NARAL Pro-Choice America, Supermajority, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, She the People, UltraViolet, Women’s March, Women’s March Action, Care in Action, and #VOTEPROCHOICE, have joined together to ask that the 2020 Democratic Presidential candidates commit to ensuring that women, and particularly women of color, are in a position to lead our country. 

Specifically, the groups ask that  the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates commit to (1) selecting a woman for Vice President, (2)  appointing women to at least half of cabinet positions and (3) ensuring that racial, religious and gender identity representation are factored into all presidential appointments.

This is key to protecting our rights and our freedoms, especially our reproductive rights. 
The letter reads:              
We know that the only way to guarantee that women’s issues stay on the agenda is if women are the ones setting it.
                               
Over the past three years, we have seen more women running for and winning elected office than at any time in our entire history. We’ve seen them best men on the debate stage and we’ve seen them persist through sexist attacks in the media and among their peers.
                               
Although we have elected a historic number of women to public office, it is evident that women are not afforded the platform we deserve in public service. Women lead families, communities, businesses, and should have equal opportunity to lead our country away from this bleak road we are on. Women across the political spectrum run for public office, and the vast majority do so in humble service to the principles and values we need in leadership right now: fairness, justice, and peace.
                               
Women always make history, and we are proud of so many of the women who have taken leadership positions at every level of the campaign trail. When women run for elected office, we consistently push our issues into the spotlight. Because of them, and because of us, we know that we can and will build an America that everyone can say yes to, with no exceptions.
                               
Our democracy has been taken hostage by an administration who has made a practice of transforming prejudice into public policy. We know there’s a better tomorrow for us, and we call upon each presidential candidate to lead us there, making the road to justice and equality with women by his side.