This one hit different. I sat down with Liuba Grechen Shirley — founder and CEO of Vote Mama — and walked away energized by what happens when a mom decides the political system needs to change. We talked about broken structures, nursing babies on the campaign trail, and why moms in politics are still fighting for the basic support other candidates take for granted. It’s a conversation about courage, access, and the kind of civic engagement that can actually move the needle.
Liuba’s path into politics began with organizing and ended with a run for Congress in 2018, after she saw firsthand how deeply the system disadvantages women running for office. What followed was not just a campaign, but a broader movement: Vote Mama, built to challenge the structural barriers that keep moms out of office and make political life less possible for working parents. The episode traces how campaign childcare funding became a live issue, why that ruling mattered, and how it helped open doors in states across the country.
That bigger story is really about representation — and power. When more moms run, more families get seen, and more policy starts to reflect real life. The conversation also gets practical, from Moms Night Out gatherings to the push to take back the House, with clear ways listeners can support women running for office right now.
What We Cover
* How Liuba went from organizing an Indivisible group to running for Congress with two babies at home
* Why the political system was built before women had the right to vote — and why that still matters
* The historic campaign childcare funding ruling and how it became law in 40 states
* How Vote Mama is helping moms in politics build real paths to power
* Why Moms Night Out events are becoming a powerful tool for civic engagement
* What listeners can do right now to help take back the House
Pull Quotes
“You’re already more qualified than most people in office. If you can read, if you can talk to members of your own community, and if you care — you can run for office.”
— Liuba Grechen Shirley
“Other countries have social safety nets. The US has women.”
— Jessica Clarko, cited by Liuba Grechen Shirley
“We are only a few months away from the most consequential election of our lifetimes. This is not a test.”
— Liuba Grechen Shirley
About Vote Mama
Vote Mama is a movement and ecosystem built to make politics more accessible for moms. Vote Mama PAC elects Democratic moms up and down the ballot, Vote Mama Foundation leads research on mothers in politics, and Vote Mama Lobby pushes legislative advocacy for moms in office and on the trail. Together, they’re working to make it easier for women running for office to lead without having to choose between public service and caregiving.
Take Action
* Host a Moms Night Out — go to votemamapac.org or comment “ready” on @votemamalobby on Instagram to get the toolkit. A $17,500 match is active the week before Mother’s Day.
* Donate to the Mama Fund — every dollar goes directly to endorsed mom candidates running right now.
* Support endorsed moms — find Vote Mama-endorsed candidates and back them with your vote, time, or donation.
* Follow @votemamalobby on Instagram for updates, candidate spotlights, and ways to plug in.
Connect
Website: votemamapac.org · votemamafoundation.orgInstagram: @votemamalobby · @liubagrechenshirleyLinkedIn: Vote Mama Lobby · Vote Mama FoundationSubstack: Liuba Grechen Shirley on Substack
#VoteMama #MomsInPolitics #WomenInPolitics #WhatDoWeDoNext #MollyRuland #LiubaGrechenShirley #MomsNightOut #SaveDemocracy #WomenRunning #CivicEngagement
