Liuba believes in supporting mothers running for office with Vote Mama
In this conversation, Olivia speaks with Liuba Grechen Shirley, founder of Vote Mama, about the importance of having mothers in political positions. They discuss Liuba's journey as a political mom, the challenges faced by women running for office, and the structural barriers that need to be addressed to empower more women to participate in politics. Vote Mama aims to support and endorse women candidates, particularly mothers, to create a more inclusive political landscape. The conversation emphasizes the need for policy changes that reflect the realities of motherhood and the importance of community support for women in politics.
Liuba Grechen Shirley is the Founder and CEO of Vote Mama, an interconnected trio of organizations dedicated to electing mothers, transforming the political system, and advancing family-friendly policies. These organizations include Vote Mama PAC, the nation’s first Political Action Committee focused on electing Democratic moms across the ballot; Vote Mama Foundation, the leading source of research and analysis on the political participation of mothers in the United States; and Vote Mama Lobby, which collaborates with elected officials from both parties to support policies that benefit families and children. These organizations aim to elect mothers, transform the political system, dismantle barriers for mothers running for office, normalize candidacies of mothers with young children, and promote family-friendly legislation.
Liuba's career highlights include her historic congressional campaign for New York’s 2nd District, where she achieved the highest vote share of any Democrat against the incumbent in 25 years and raised over $2 million without corporate PAC money. She made history as the first woman to receive federal approval to spend campaign funds on childcare. Previously she worked in international development in Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, with a focus on women’s economic empowerment. Liuba has been recognized as one of Long Island’s 100 Most Powerful People and has been featured in major media outlets like CNN, The Today Show, and TIME Magazine. Her academic background includes an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business and a BA in Politics and Russian from NYU. Liuba resides on Long Island with her husband and three children.
Check out Vote Mama: https://www.votemamapac.org/