New York’s female politicians hope to capitalize on Hillary Clinton’s campaign

Standing before a crowd at El Vez Restaurant in Philadelphia Monday, state Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins jubilantly pumped her arm up and down, explaining that her support for Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, was partially based on personal prospects.

“You, you are going to make me the first woman majority leader,” Stewart-Cousins, Democratic minority leader of the state Senate said, prompting a gathering that included several New York officials to break out in cheers. “We’re not only going to elect the first woman president from New York, we are going to elect women and Democratic women all down the ballot.”

Stewart-Cousins was not the only elected official to suggest sending Clinton to the White House would spur support for fellow female officials. At an event highlighting Clinton’s connection to the Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee, which seeks to promote the election of pro-choice woman candidates through courses on effective campaigning and issuing grants, a number of women paid homage to the mentorship and pipeline Eleanor’s Legacy provided.

And with one of its own poised to vie for the presidency, Eleanor’s Legacy may see its goals propelled forward, several officials said.

New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito urged people to volunteer for Clinton while describing her as a pioneer in politics.

“We know the importance of breaking those ceilings, breaking those barriers,” Mark-Viverito said, noting that the 51-member Legislature she leads includes only 14 women. “We do not have enough women in elected office either at the municipal or at the state levels. But I have a feeling that momentum is going to change once Hillary becomes our president.”

After crediting Eleanor’s Legacy with providing her with a pipeline from town legislator to Congress to Lieutenant Governor today, Kathy Hochul said she was confident a Clinton victory would help the group – and those that share its goals – in recruiting female candidates.

“I believe that her [Clinton] in that position is going to inspire women of all ages, including this little sweetheart right here, to maybe run for office one day,” Hochul said, addressing a 7-year-old jumping up and down in front of the stage where speakers took turns addressing the crowd.

As for that girl, Harper Quill, she said Hochul was not so far off base.

“Yeah, I might run one day,” she said, noting she was concerned about the homeless. “There’s just a lot of people out there who don’t have homes.”

Nevertheless, attendees were quick to caution there would still be a need for groups like Eleanor’s Legacy even if one of its coterie captures the country’s highest office.

“Make no mistake, when Hillary Clinton gets elected president of the United States, sexism is not going to disappear, just as the same way that when Barack Obama got elected president of the United States, racism didn’t just disappear,” former New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said.