Hi John, 

Before we dive into our first monthly update of this year, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the heavy news this week. 

At Vote Mama Foundation, we remain focused on our work to break down the barriers that keep parents and caregivers out of office and out of power. We’re reaching out today to share the progress we’ve made to start 2025.

Here’s a look at how we started the year:

Campaign Funds for Childcare Update:

Vote Mama Foundation is the foremost authority tracking the access and usage of Campaign Funds for Childcare (CFCC). As the only organization working to get CFCC authorized in all 50 states, Vote Mama Foundation is laying the groundwork to build a more representative government.

This month, Alaska became the 39th state to approve CFCC after the Alaska Public Offices Commission released an advisory opinion allowing campaign funds to be used for dependent care expenses. This ruling only applies to candidates who incur these expenses while engaging in campaign activities, ensuring that caregiving responsibilities don’t impact their work on the campaign trail. More than 75% of the country already approves of CFCC, and Alaska brings us one step closer to all 50 states.

Research Update:

Building on our Politics of Parenthood research series, Vote Mama Foundation collaborated with New American Leaders to release a joint report: New American Mamas Shaping State Legislatures. New American Mamas are moms with minor children who are either immigrants or first-generation Americans. The report found that nearly 42 percent of New American women serving in state legislatures are New American Mamas. Through this research, we’re spotlighting the intersectional identities of these trailblazers and breaking down the barriers hindering moms’ path to making a difference. Read the full report here!

Vote Mama in the News:

Vote Mama Foundation’s work and research continued to make headlines! Check out coverage from Axios San Antonio about how moms are underrepresented in the state of Texas.

Vote Mama Foundation’s founder and CEO, Liuba Grechen Shirley, was featured in The Boston Globe to talk about the importance of moms serving in executive offices. This interview came as Boston Mayor Michelle Wu gave birth to her third child, a baby girl. As Liuba states, “So many people have tried to make motherhood a detriment to your career...motherhood gives her a unique perspective that really makes a difference to so many of her constituents.” Read the full story here!

Vote Mama Foundation’s chief program officer, Sarah Hague, sat down for a radio interview with KUNR Public Radio to discuss the high representation of moms with minor children in the state of Nevada. Vote Mama Foundation’s groundbreaking research found that 12.7 percent of Nevada state legislators are moms with minor children, ranking the state at fifth in the nation, while national statistics show that only 7.9 percent of all U.S. state legislators are moms with minor children. Check out the full interview here!

On our radar: 

• Women made gains in state Houses across the country, but representation is lower in the Southeast

• The 119th Congress saw an overall decline in women’s representation, but there are some history-makers

• With the Grammys approaching this weekend, women are leading the charge towards a historic awards ceremony

The impactful work of Vote Mama Foundation is made possible by the support of friends like you. Consider making a donation today to further support our efforts to make the political system more accessible for parents and caregivers.

Thank you for being by our side!

Team Vote Mama Foundation

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Vote Mama Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is the leading source of research on the political participation of moms. We break the structural barriers moms face running for and serving in elected office and enable moms in office to pass truly family-friendly legislation.

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