Liuba Grechen Shirley starts PAC for moms running for office
Liuba Grechen Shirley, an Amityville Democrat who ran unsuccessfully against Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) last year, has launched a political action committee aimed at supporting mothers running for political office.
The "Vote Mama" PAC aims to provide $500,000 in funding to progressive moms running for office in 2019, according to a news release.
Grechen Shirley, 37, received national attention last year when she successfully petitioned the Federal Elections Committee to allow candidates to pay for child care with campaign funds. She said the ruling would make it easier for parents of young children to consider running for office.
"Have you ever breast-fed while preparing for a televised debate? Or made your daughter lunch while talking to a donor on the phone?” Grechen Shirley said in a statement announcing the PAC. “There is no playbook for running for office with kids — so I’m making one. Too often, moms with young kids are dismissed outright because we’re seen as unviable — and blocked from key early support that could help us win. Not anymore.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who has formed a presidential exploratory committee, said in a statement, “Right now, a lot of moms wait until their children are grown before they run for political office. Because they wait to get started, it’s harder for women to achieve leadership positions at the same rates as men."
The PAC has an advisory committee including members of Congress and other elected officials including Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, Assemb. Michaelle Solages (D-Elmont) and New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Scott Eidler is a deputy editor for the towns department at Newsday. Scott has worked at Newsday since 2012 and previously covered municipal government and education.
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