When Women Run and Women Vote, Women Win

November 7 could be the perfect storm, cleaning House and returning Democrats to power. When the dust settles, women candidates should be proud for having led the way to victory. And for that, America should be grateful.

More than two-thirds the total number of women serving in Congress are Democrats - 45 in total. Twenty-one of our Red to Blue candidates are women. More than 1,500 Democratic women are running in state legislative races, and in the 36 gubernatorial bids, 10 women are running - half of them are Democrats. While the sheer number of women in office may not break the record set in 1992, the "Year of the Women," the policy implications may be even greater. Women are agents of change, seeking accountability, defending what is right and good, and getting to "yes" - elements missing in today's Republican controlled Congress.

I know first hand the difference women make in Congress. As Chair of the Democratic Women's Working Group, I have had the opportunity to lead and learn from this wonderful group of women. We have worked together to defend the rights of women in the workplace and the rights of girls to have equal educational opportunities. We have built bridges with women in a wide variety of professions and showed America's girls that there is hope for them to break through existing glass ceilings. We have fought for pay equity and against assault in the military. We have united to end domestic violence both at home and abroad. We have worked to make our communities safer from domestic and foreign threats.

That is why I have worked hard as a mentor and fundraiser for women running for office. As a member of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Recruitment Team I have traveled across the country, recruiting candidates and raising more than $1 million to bring a new Democratic direction to our country. I have personally campaigned for more than one dozen candidates, including Diane Farrell, Patricia Madrid, Gabrielle Giffords, Jill Derby, and Angie Paccione. I have felt the fervor for change and have seen first hand the difference these women are making. They deserve a chance to help put America on the right path to a new direction.

On Election Day, voters should support and reward the brave women who have run for local, state and federal office. For when women run and women vote, women win and our nation will be better off.