Marilyn Moran-Townsend
CEO, CVC Communications

“I’m no lady; I’m a Member of Congress.”

These words were spoken in 1916 by Jeannette Rankin of Montana, the first woman elected to Congress. She advocated for the creation of a Committee on Women’s Suffrage and was appointed to it once the committee was formed. When the special committee reported out a constitutional amendment on women’s suffrage, Rankin opened the first House floor debate on this subject.

“How shall we answer their challenge, gentlemen?” she asked. “How shall we explain to them the meaning of democracy if the same Congress that voted for war to make the world safe for democracy refuses to give this small measure of democracy to the women of our country?”

It would take another 16 years before Indiana elected its first woman to Congress. Today, women comprise more than half the population but make up only 23% of U.S. Representatives and 25% of U.S. Senators.

Standing on the shoulders of these pioneers, the AVOW Women’s Campaign Institute prepares women to seek public office at all levels of government. We couldn’t be prouder of the 21 alumni and faculty of the AVOW Women’s Campaign Institute who achieved primary election victories in June, and we look forward to VICTORY in November!