Vote Mama: Paving the Way for Caregiver Representation

Gender equity is a widely researched topic in the political sphere, but the focus on motherhood in politics is nascent. Moms of minor children comprise an all-but-unexplored research population that is critical to understand, not just as a subpopulation of women, but as a distinct population in its own right that is integral to a well-functioning government and to achieving gender equity in politics. Vote Mama Foundation is the leading source of research on the political participation of mothers. 

By the time American women are 45-years-old, 85% are mothers. Yet, just 7% of members of the 117th Congress are mothers with school-aged children. Twenty-seven states have no mamas of minor children representing them in Congress. There are more millionaires in Congress than moms of minors. There are three times as many men named John serving in the U.S. Senate than moms of minors. At the state level, just 5% of our state legislators are mothers with school-aged children. Women either wait until their children are grown to run for office or leave office early to care for them. The sad reality is this: if we’re not breaking down the unique barriers that moms face when running for and serving in office, we will never reach full gender parity. 

A Lack of Caregiver Representation Leads to a Less Diverse Congress

Our legislators are charged with solving challenges most have never personally faced. Most members of Congress have never lived paycheck to paycheck, do not have student loan debt, and do not understand what it is like to be unable to afford childcare. Not having enough parents – and even fewer moms of minors – in office means a less diverse Congress and a legislative body that is disconnected from the policies that impact working families. We need the lived experiences of everyday caregivers to inform, shape, and advocate for family-friendly legislation that helps all communities grow and thrive. 

By changing the policymakers, we can change the policies. That starts with electing more mamas of young children. When mamas run, they win. When mamas win, families win because they now have a voice in every room that is dictating policy, community budgets, and national rhetoric. 

Children in America are continuously being put at the center of political strife – from book bans to gun reform. We need mamas who know firsthand what raising a child in 2024 American society is like. What’s working? What’s not? How can we help our children be successful? It starts with electing mamas to public office to give all children an advocate.

Removing Barriers to Running for Office

Mamas with minor kids face unique barriers when running for and serving in public office. Vote Mama Foundation is working to break the structural and cultural barriers that keep moms from running for and serving in office. By using a two-pronged approach to challenge the status quo, Vote Mama Foundation is advancing equitable policy solutions to dismantle the barriers that keep parents out of office and out of power. It is not enough to get more parents in the room, we need to change the structure and culture of state legislatures so parents, especially mothers, can sustainably serve in the halls of power.

Campaign Funds for Childcare

Campaign Funds for Childcare is a vital resource for parents and caregivers who are running for office. In 2018, the Federal Election Commission approved federal candidates’ option to spend campaign funds on childcare through a unanimous, bipartisan vote. This paved the way for other federal candidates to do so as well. Vote Mama Foundation is working on expanding this allowance to state and local candidates in all 50 states. We are the only organization helping state candidates petition their election commissions and working with legislators to introduce and pass legislation to approve the use of Campaign Funds for Childcare. To date, 31 states (plus Washington D.C.) have authorized the use of Campaign Funds for Childcare—so far.

In states where CFCC is allowed, caregiving expenses can be used like any other allowable campaign expense as it relates to the duties of campaigning for public office. If you are running for office in the following states, you can use campaign funds on childcare expenses:

Candidates in these states may use their campaign funds on any campaign related childcare expense while running for office. Examples include hiring a babysitter to attend a fundraising event, covering the cost of childcare during campaign activities, or paying for daycare services while conducting door-to-door voter outreach. Candidates should report childcare expenses as any other campaign expense. If you use your campaign funds on childcare, let us know! We are collecting stories from candidates nationwide to strengthen our movement for why passing CFCC is so important. Contact us here. 

CFCC is An Effective Legislative Solution

Our data and research show that CFCC is one of the most effective structural solutions to increasing the representation of women, people of color, and parents/caregivers from all walks of life. We released our most recent Campaign Funds for Childcare (CFCC) report in January of 2024. The report outlines data on how women and people of color disproportionately use CFCC to run successful campaigns and increase the diversity of our legislatures. 

Our playbook for getting CFCC allowed for state and local candidates across the country has a proven track record of bipartisan support and authorization from West Virginia to California. Even better, our recipe for success can be replicated for any other type of campaign finance reform, such as using campaign funds to pay for security expenses while on the campaign trail. 

Entering the political arena should never come at the expense of a candidate’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Unfortunately, women, especially women of color, face persistent harassment, threats, and abuse on the campaign trail that takes a toll on their mental health and can even drive them out of politics altogether. By replicating our Campaign Funds for Childcare model, we will continue to break down the barriers that keep women and families out of office and out of power. 

Helping Caregivers in Office Stay in Office

But we know these hurdles don’t stop on election night. Vote Mama Foundation has identified the barriers that hold parents back, especially moms with minor children, and we help to advance bipartisan, family-friendly solutions. It is not enough to bring moms to the decision-making table, we need to help them STAY there. 

Things as simple as changing tables in all the bathrooms at the state capitol and a safe, clean place to pump while carrying out official duties can make it easier for parents of young children to balance their work as a legislator and their responsibilities as parents. Unfortunately, the barriers keeping parents from sustainably serving in office go beyond minor construction challenges. Most state legislators are either unpaid or paid below their state’s standard cost of living, and many don’t have funding to hire staff. Increasing legislator salaries and providing benefits like paid family and medical leave can help everyday parents stay in office and represent all families. Without the necessary support and infrastructure, parents of young children or caregivers to elderly family members are forced to leave office early – taking with them a crucial perspective that is needed at all levels of government. 

Learn More About Vote Mama

If we want to ensure that our legislative bodies reflect everyday Americans and families nationwide, then we need to elect mamas. Campaign Funds for Childcare is essential in eliminating a major financial barrier for all parents to run for office and represent their communities. To learn more about our efforts to elect caregivers up and down the ballot across the country, visit our website.

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