Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is ready to see more women in Congress.
In an interview with New York magazine Tuesday, Gillibrand, who launched a PAC focused on electing more women, discussed the important role women play in politics, and encouraged more to get involved.
“Just telling women: If you don’t speak up, things aren’t gonna change,” she told the publication. “If you don’t become an advocate, it’s not gonna change. If you don’t vote, it’s not gonna change. If you don’t run, it’s not gonna change.”
Her PAC, Off the Sidelines, has raised nearly $6 million for women candidates in the past five years. And she’s authored the inspiring book Off The Sidelines: Raise Your Voice, Change the World.
Gillibrand told New York magazine she was tired of only seeing men running for office.
“I can’t tell you how many 30-year-old dudes believe they should be senator or president,” she said. “Women, we’re like, ‘Well, maybe after ten years of working …’ No. Just run for the office you want to run for and run on the issue you want to fix.”
More women in Congress would mean more diversity and a stronger economy, she said.
“You would have different issues raised, different solutions being offered, you’d have less partisan bickering,” she said “Because our disposition is to help. When we do our legislation, we’re not trying to figure out how can I use this to run against you; we say, ‘How can we pass this bill to help both of our constituents?’”
Read the full interview at New York Mag.
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