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Democratic mayoral candidate Cherelle Parker visits a polling place in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. Parker won the race and is set to become the city’s first female mayor. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Tuesday might have counted as an “off-cycle” election day—meaning we didn’t vote in a general election for president or even on Congressional midterm races—but it nonetheless turned into a big night for women. In Ohio, voters chose to pass a ballot measure that will protect abortion access in the state; in Virginia, voters rejected politicians who ran on a 15-week abortion ban and instead gave Democrats control of the state legislature. As Forbes reporter Alison Durkee notes here, these are just the latest in a string of state-specific victories for reproductive healthcare, proving anew that abortion access is a critical health, economic and political issue that is driving people to polls.
It was also a night of many firsts for women: In Philadelphia, Democrat Cherelle Parker was elected to become the city’s 100th mayor and will be the first woman to hold the job. The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection made good on its moniker within the chambers of city council, too: Civil rights attorney Rue Landau will become the council’s first openly LGBTQ+ member, while Nina Ahmad will become the council’s first South Asian member. In Wichita, Libertarian and political newcomer Lily Wu was elected as mayor Tuesday night and will become her city’s first Asian American mayor.
As I said on Morning Joe today during a discussion about these results with Huma Abedin and Mika Brzezinski, these firsts matter because according to the Center for American Women in Politics, women make up just a quarter of mayors and officials who represent towns and cities with more than 30,000 residents. Yet women comprise a little more than half of this country’s population. So with each woman who wins a mayoral seat, we get just a little bit closer to a government that looks like its people.
Cheers to that!
Maggie
Featured Forbes List: Asia’s Most Powerful Businesswomen In 2023
As the world navigates new economic realities, businesswomen in Asia-Pacific remain undeterred. They are pushing forward with new ventures and rising to secure top spots at some of the region’s largest and most prestigious enterprises. Among the 20 such leaders who constitute this year’s Asia’s Power Businesswomen list are Worldwide Hotels CEO Carolyn Choo, Luxshare Precision Industry chair Wang Laichun and Perfect Corp founder Alice Chang. See the whole list here!
ICYMI: News Of The Week
Speaking of abortion access, French President Emmanuel Macron said recently he wants to enshrine abortion in his country’s constitution. If the revision is adopted, France will be the first country to explicitly designate access to abortion as a constitutional right.
Bumble cofounder Whitney Wolfe Herd will step down as the dating app company’s chief executive, the dating app announced Monday morning. On January 2, 2024, Wolfe Herd will become the company’s executive chairwoman and Lidiane Jones, who is currently Slack’s chief executive, will become Bumble’s new CEO.
Narges Mohammadi, the woman who won the Nobel Peace Prize for her gender advocacy in Iran has started a hunger strike in prison, it was reported Monday, after she and other female inmates were blocked from receiving medical care over their refusal to wear a headscarf.
Ivanka Trump arrived Wednesday morning at a Lower Manhattan courthouse to testify in a $250 million fraud case that the attorney general is waging against her father, Donald Trump. The state has accused the former president, along with several of his associates, of lying to lenders about his net worth for years. Catch up on her testimony with this liveblog from Forbes senior editor Dan Alexander, here.
The Checklist
1. Spot student loan relief scams. When federal college loan payments resumed in October, scamsters jumped into the fray to take advantage of the confusion. Here are the red flags to keep your eyes on so that you don’t fall prey to a fraudster.
2. Persuade across power dynamics. If you are expected to wield organizational influence without having direct power or authority over folks, follow these tips for executing effective persuasion.
3. Be more assertive. Speaking up with your insight and expertise can make your team and organization stronger. If you’re feeling hesitant to use your voice at work, try preparing before you speak, focusing on “I” statements, and noticing your non-verbal cues.
The Quiz
As the once-crowded field of GOP presidential contenders narrows, all eyes were on former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley during last night’s debate as her poll numbers improve. Haley sparred again with which candidate, who is currently polling behind her?
- Vivek Ramaswamy
- Chris Christie
- Tim Scott
- Ron DeSantis
Check your answer.
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