WHY WIRE?
Women are underrepresented
at every
level of government.
WIRE wants to change that!
WOMEN MAKE UP MORE THAN 50%​ OF THE POPULATION, BUT HOLD LESS THAN 25% OF ELECTED OFFICES
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On the national level, women comprise only 24% of the U.S. Congress.
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At the local level across the country, only 28% of statewide legislatures, 18% of governors, and 23% of mayoral positions of the US's 100 largest cities are held by women.
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The numbers for California are not much better: California’s state legislature is only 32% female.
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Women of color, Republican women, young and low income women are especially underrepresented.
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WIRE focuses on recruiting and identifying civic-minded women in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, who are positioned to take leadership roles today and who are ready for new opportunities that present themselves tomorrow. WIRE helps women bridge the gap between entertaining a public office run and knowing how to do it.
WHY DON'T WOMEN RUN? BECAUSE THEY DON'T RUN!
When women run for office, they win at comparable rates to men, but they are still severely underrepresented. Why?
Because many women are reluctant to run.
WIRE addresses the primary reasons women don’t seek public office...
Women don't
self-nominate.
Most women need to be asked and encouraged to run.
WIRE's Solution:
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WIRE focuses on identifying female candidates for nonpartisan offices and keeps abreast of all elected and appointed opportunities in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties
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WIRE’s Workshops and Mentor programs assists women candidates run the most effective campaigns possible
Traditional, political institutions responsible for recruiting candidates are male-dominated. To counteract that, WIRE is building its own pipeline of qualified experienced women.
In our two counties, there are over 1000 elected and appointed positions. Appointed offices help women build their political skills and networks and offer many varied opportunities for service.
WIRE seeks to recruit female candidates for the full range of public positions, both appointed and elected roles.
Traditional institutions overlook women.
Women doubt
their qualifications.
Studies show that while women and men may be equally fit to run, women are more likely to minimize their expertise and competency.
WIRE introduces candidates to a network of appointed and elected women who share their own experiences in overcoming self-doubt and provide encouragement to those who can benefit from this support.
WIRE serves as a resource for candidates in understanding how public office can affect private life and provides insight with regard to finding balance.
WIRE encircles female candidates in a network of resources to meet potential challenges, such as:
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How to apply for appointed positions
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How to create a campaign plan
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How to build a campaign team
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How to raise funds
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How best to effectively reach out to the voters.