Influencing Public Policy in the United States: Special Interest Group ‘Fund Her’
Via UnsplashWritten By
London Allen
May 2, 2024
In 2024, U.S. national elections will capture the interest of millions across the country. While casting ballots, voters must consider the influence of special interest groups in American politics. These advocacy groups focus on different issues and share the common goal of influencing public policy, legislation, and/or regulations to promote those interests. Understanding which political figures are associated with which groups can encourage voters to make informed decisions and understand which policies politicians are interested in enacting.
Fund Her is a special interest group that influences public policy concerning environmental, reproductive, and women’s issues. Fund Her was founded by its current president, Valerie McGinty, who is a civil rights and consumer appellate attorney. Following the 2016 election, she realized the importance of state governments in electing women who can enact change both locally and nationally. Recognizing the gap in resources dedicated to closing the gender disparity in state politics, McGinty founded a political action committee (PAC) exclusively focused on this goal.
Fund Her specializes in funding progressive woman candidates at the state level. This group was founded in 2017, and over half of the winning candidates the group has supported are either women of color or identify as LGBTQ+. These candidates advocate for women, people of color, low-income and marginalized communities in their struggle for justice (Fund Her). Since its inception, Fund Her has played a pivotal role in electing 15 women in its first year, including California's first female Lieutenant Governor, Ambassador Eleni Kounalakis. This achievement significantly increased female representation in the California state legislature from 22% in 2018 to 32.5% in 2021.
Fund Her strategically identifies opportunities in swing states like Virginia, where its endorsed candidates contributed to turning the state blue and facilitated Virginia's ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Moreover, the organization assisted in flipping Arizona, Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan seats. In 2020, Fund Her launched "Build the Bench," a program supporting local office candidates, with nine out of ten elected being women of color. With California's female representation at an all-time high of 33%, Fund Her is closer to achieving gender parity in the world's fifth-largest economy.
As voters engage in the electoral process, recognizing the impact of groups like Fund Her underscores the importance of voting not only for individuals but also for the values and causes they represent. By supporting candidates endorsed by organizations dedicated to equity and progress, voters can contribute to building a more inclusive and representative democracy for all.
Written by: London Allen
About the Author:
London is a writer and aspiring artist who is passionate about social justice and influencing systemic changes in the U.S.
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