Uplifting women and celebrating their role in politics was the goal of a brunch for Democratic women who gathered Friday
Rep. Underwood new host of Women's Power Brunch as Schakowsky retires; AOC keynote speaker Uplifting women and celebrating their role in politics was the goal of a brunch for Democratic women who gathered FridayUplifting women and celebrating their role in politics was the goal of a brunch for Democratic women who gathered Friday to honorThe role of women in Congress was a key topic of discussion at the Women's Power Brunch that Schakowsky has hosted for years.
More than 200 women and some men gathered for some next-generation inspiration.
"We are going to have the most women representing our state ever beginning next year, and it's an exciting moment for women's leadership and power," 14th District Rep. Underwood said.
"And I especially admire Congresswoman Schakowsky for always uplifting other women in everything she's done," said Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, a Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate. The keynote speaker was New York congresswoman and potential presidential candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
"We bear an enormous amount of responsibility because we have power here in this room, to help balance the scale," Ocasio-Cortez said. AOC, as she is frequently called, exhorted the packed house on the important role women must play in the next election cycle, with so much at stake.
"This is not just about women's empowerment, but this is about how women wield power, how we wield power. And I am very excited about the chapter that we are about to open," Ocasio-Cortez said.
"And what I'm also encouraged by is all the new people actually inspired to run, who would never run for politics, who are actually regular people, not career politicians, who are ready to make a difference and fight for our country," said Anne Shaw, with the Illinois Democratic Women of Cook County. Attendees see affordability issues, such as the high price of groceries and gasoline, as key electoral issues for women and voters in general.
As for the prospects of this country electing a woman as president, some believe it could depend on younger voters.
"So we have to do something that gets them engaged and attracts them to want to make that change. And that generation, I think, might be more engaged in electing a woman, but they have to vote so that it can happen," said Donna Miller, a Democratic nominee for Congress.
"I think that the people that are part of the conversation, who are being very open about their intentions and running for president, are not going to be our nominee. I think our nominee is laying low, and they will probably emerge sometime after the midterms," Underwood said.
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