Our History: We've Been Campaigning ...
For Over 152 Years!
In 1872, Victoria Claflin Woodhull...
Victoria Claflin Woodhull
On April 2, 1870, Victoria Claflin Woodhull announced herself as a candidate for the U.S. presidency in The New York Herald. Thus, the campaign to elect a woman for president began over 145 years ago.
Having overcome financial and family challenges, Woodhull established herself as a prominent newspaper owner. When she opened her own stock brokerage firm on Wall Street, she became nationally known. As the first woman to run for U.S. president, she received widespread media coverage. She used the influence her candidacy generated to win the right for women to address Congress. On January 11, 1871, she became the first woman to publicly address Congress--speaking on behalf of women's right to vote.
On May 10, 1872, Woodhull accepted the nomination to run as a candidate for President of the United States on the Equal Rights Party ticket. It was a coalition of labor organizers, women's advocates and others that she founded. An advocate of equal rights for everyone, Woodhull chose Frederick Douglass as her vice presidential running mate.
Woodhull's presidential campaign won great public interest. It was followed nationwide. Regardless of whether she won votes on Election Day--Tuesday, November 5, 1872--Woodhull undoubtedly set the national precedent for women to run for the U.S. presidency. So many American women have followed in her footsteps, its likely impossible to keep track. Here are just a few more.
Having overcome financial and family challenges, Woodhull established herself as a prominent newspaper owner. When she opened her own stock brokerage firm on Wall Street, she became nationally known. As the first woman to run for U.S. president, she received widespread media coverage. She used the influence her candidacy generated to win the right for women to address Congress. On January 11, 1871, she became the first woman to publicly address Congress--speaking on behalf of women's right to vote.
On May 10, 1872, Woodhull accepted the nomination to run as a candidate for President of the United States on the Equal Rights Party ticket. It was a coalition of labor organizers, women's advocates and others that she founded. An advocate of equal rights for everyone, Woodhull chose Frederick Douglass as her vice presidential running mate.
Woodhull's presidential campaign won great public interest. It was followed nationwide. Regardless of whether she won votes on Election Day--Tuesday, November 5, 1872--Woodhull undoubtedly set the national precedent for women to run for the U.S. presidency. So many American women have followed in her footsteps, its likely impossible to keep track. Here are just a few more.
In 1884 & 1888, Belva Ann Lockwood...
In 1884 and again in 1888, Belva Ann Lockwood ran for U.S. president as a candidate on the Equal Rights Party ticket. She had become nationally-known as the first woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. After completing her law degree, the law school refused to award a degree because she was a woman. She had to petition the president of the university, who also happened to be President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, to obtain her degree.
Lockwood put her name on several state presidential primary ballots, reportedly receiving 4,149 votes from the all-male electorate in 1884--setting the precedent of women getting on presidential primary ballots and winning votes.
Lockwood put her name on several state presidential primary ballots, reportedly receiving 4,149 votes from the all-male electorate in 1884--setting the precedent of women getting on presidential primary ballots and winning votes.
In 1964, U.S. Senator Margaret Chase Smith...
In 1964, Republican Sen. Margaret Chase Smith (Maine) became the first major-party candidate to run for U.S. president. Nationally known as the first woman to serve in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, Sen. Smith was respected on both side of the aisle for her national military policy work during and after World War II.
Refusing to accept financial contributions to her campaign, Sen. Smith returned contributions sent by supporters and championed campaign finance reform as a central theme of her presidential campaign. She campaigned heavily in the early primary states, where she believed she could win the most votes. She largely ignored the other states due to her campaign's financial limitations and her refusal to miss Senate votes in Washington, D.C. to be on the campaign trail.
Sen. Smith campaigned in five out of the 17 Republican primaries and won 224,970 votes or 3.8 percent of the total votes cast for Republican presidential candidates in 1964. She finished fifth out of seven candidates in the New Hampshire primary--the first in the nation, with 2,120 votes or 2.3 percent. She skipped the next primary in Wisconsin. Then she finished second among eight candidates in Illinois, with 209, 521 votes or 25.3 percent, after waging her most serious campaign. Thereafter, Smith won votes in Massachusetts, Texas and Oregon. No votes were recorded for Sen. Smith in the Republican primaries in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, Indiana, Ohio, Nebraska, Maryland, Florida, California or South Dakota.
As her results demonstrate, Sen. Smith put herself--and women presidential candidates--on the majority-party presidential primary map.
Refusing to accept financial contributions to her campaign, Sen. Smith returned contributions sent by supporters and championed campaign finance reform as a central theme of her presidential campaign. She campaigned heavily in the early primary states, where she believed she could win the most votes. She largely ignored the other states due to her campaign's financial limitations and her refusal to miss Senate votes in Washington, D.C. to be on the campaign trail.
Sen. Smith campaigned in five out of the 17 Republican primaries and won 224,970 votes or 3.8 percent of the total votes cast for Republican presidential candidates in 1964. She finished fifth out of seven candidates in the New Hampshire primary--the first in the nation, with 2,120 votes or 2.3 percent. She skipped the next primary in Wisconsin. Then she finished second among eight candidates in Illinois, with 209, 521 votes or 25.3 percent, after waging her most serious campaign. Thereafter, Smith won votes in Massachusetts, Texas and Oregon. No votes were recorded for Sen. Smith in the Republican primaries in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, Indiana, Ohio, Nebraska, Maryland, Florida, California or South Dakota.
As her results demonstrate, Sen. Smith put herself--and women presidential candidates--on the majority-party presidential primary map.
On The 100-Year Anniversary...
Cong. Shirley Chisholm |
Cong. Patsy Mink |
Cong. Bella Abzug |
In 1972, the 100-year anniversary of Woodhull's historic presidential campaign, Cong. Shirley Chisholm (New York), Cong. Patsy Mink (Hawaii), and Cong. Bella Abzug (New York) ran together for the Democratic nomination for U.S. president.
While the record suggests that Cong. Abzug dropped out before the primary elections began, Cong. Mink won a total of 8,000 votes in at least two primaries--New Hampshire and Oregon. Cong. Shirley Chisholm continued on to shatter historic records for women in the presidential primaries. She even brought delegates to the 1972 Democratic National Convention in Florida.
Educated at Columbia University in New York, Cong. Chisholm became well-known to TV audiences across the country as the first African American woman elected to serve in the U.S. Congress. Also the first African American to run for a major party's presidential nomination, Cong. Chisholm played an active role in shaping Viet Nam War policy--and campaigned vigorously to end the war.
Starting with $44,000.00, Cong. Chisholm actively raised money to support her presidential campaign. She waged a competitive campaign, relying heavily on volunteers. Like Sen. Smith, Cong. Chisholm focused on states where she had the best chances of winning votes. She skipped the New Hampshire primary and focused heavily on states with large populations of African Americans, women's rights advocates, and liberal votes.
Cong. Chisholm's strategy paid off. She won the New Jersey Democratic primary with 51,433 votes or 66.9 percent. She campaigned in 14 out of 21 primaries, winning 430,703 votes or 2.7 percent of the total votes cast for Democrats. She finished third out of five in North Carolina, with 61,723 votes or 7.5 percent; fourth out of nine in California, with 157,435 votes or 4.4 percent; fourth out of 11 in Tennessee, with 18,809 votes or 3.8 percent; fifth out of 12 in Massachusetts, with 22,398 votes or 3.6 percent; and seventh out of 10 in Florida, with 43,989 votes or 3.4 percent.
She won 9,198 votes in Wisconsin without even campaigning in the state, and won additional votes in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, and New Mexico. No votes were recorded for Cong. Chisholm in New Hampshire, the District of Columbia, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Rhode Island, or South Dakota.
Cong. Chisholm's strong primary showing won her 152 delegate votes or five percent of the delegate votes cast at the Democratic National Convention in 1972--an unprecedented historic victory for women on the 100th anniversary of the campaign to elect women to the U.S. presidency.
While the record suggests that Cong. Abzug dropped out before the primary elections began, Cong. Mink won a total of 8,000 votes in at least two primaries--New Hampshire and Oregon. Cong. Shirley Chisholm continued on to shatter historic records for women in the presidential primaries. She even brought delegates to the 1972 Democratic National Convention in Florida.
Educated at Columbia University in New York, Cong. Chisholm became well-known to TV audiences across the country as the first African American woman elected to serve in the U.S. Congress. Also the first African American to run for a major party's presidential nomination, Cong. Chisholm played an active role in shaping Viet Nam War policy--and campaigned vigorously to end the war.
Starting with $44,000.00, Cong. Chisholm actively raised money to support her presidential campaign. She waged a competitive campaign, relying heavily on volunteers. Like Sen. Smith, Cong. Chisholm focused on states where she had the best chances of winning votes. She skipped the New Hampshire primary and focused heavily on states with large populations of African Americans, women's rights advocates, and liberal votes.
Cong. Chisholm's strategy paid off. She won the New Jersey Democratic primary with 51,433 votes or 66.9 percent. She campaigned in 14 out of 21 primaries, winning 430,703 votes or 2.7 percent of the total votes cast for Democrats. She finished third out of five in North Carolina, with 61,723 votes or 7.5 percent; fourth out of nine in California, with 157,435 votes or 4.4 percent; fourth out of 11 in Tennessee, with 18,809 votes or 3.8 percent; fifth out of 12 in Massachusetts, with 22,398 votes or 3.6 percent; and seventh out of 10 in Florida, with 43,989 votes or 3.4 percent.
She won 9,198 votes in Wisconsin without even campaigning in the state, and won additional votes in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, and New Mexico. No votes were recorded for Cong. Chisholm in New Hampshire, the District of Columbia, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Rhode Island, or South Dakota.
Cong. Chisholm's strong primary showing won her 152 delegate votes or five percent of the delegate votes cast at the Democratic National Convention in 1972--an unprecedented historic victory for women on the 100th anniversary of the campaign to elect women to the U.S. presidency.
In 1984, Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Geraldine Ferraro...
In 1984, Democratic Cong. Geraldine Ferraro (New York) became the first woman to be selected as the vice presidential nominee for a major-party ticket.
A former district attorney who served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, Cong. Ferraro was chosen as a running mate by Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale (who won 6,811,214 votes in the 1984 presidential primaries). She was nominated at the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco and campaigned as the vice presidential nominee throughout the general election. In the fall, she participated in the vice presidential debate against then Vice President George H.W. Bush. The debate was broadcast live to a national audience. The historic Mondale/Ferraro ticket drew enthusiastic support from Democrats throughout the nation. |
Ferraro's popularity soared--particularly among the growing population of women voters. While they did not unseat incumbent President Ronald Reagan, Ferraro's candidacy constituted a historic step forward for women.
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In 1988, Cong. Patricia Schroeder...
In 1988, Cong. Patricia Schroeder (D-Colorado) was briefly thrust into the national spotlight as a possible presidential candidate by supporters after Sen. Gary Hart's presidential campaign--which she chaired--collapsed in a national scandal involving Sen. Hart's personal life.
A Harvard-educated lawyer and pilot who had won a seat on the powerful House Arms Services Committee, Cong. Shroeder had shattered many barriers for women. Although she was nationally respected among Democrats, she declined to enter the presidential primary elections. In her estimation, it was too late in the race to begin rallying the political support necessary to defeat the seven Democrats who had already been campaigning for months. Much to the disappointment of her supporters, she did not run. |
In 2000, Sen. Elizabeth Dole...
In 2000, Republican Elizabeth Dole's presidential campaign was widely perceived as the first serious challenge by a woman for a major party's nomination for U.S. president.
The Harvard- and Oxford-educated former cabinet secretary for the U.S. departments of transportation and labor won the hearts of supporters nationwide during her husband, Bob Dole's 1996 presidential campaign. Future Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-North Carolina) began fundraising early, campaigned on national defense issues, generated enthusiastic media coverage, and won the hearts of men and women. While she dropped out of the presidential race before the primaries began, her momentum later propelled her to victory in the 2002 North Carolina Senate race. |
In 2004, Sen. Carol Moseley Braun...
In 2004, Sen. Carol Moseley Braun (D-Illinois) launched her presidential campaign in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina--on Presidents Day weekend in 2003.
The next day, she flew back to Chicago and officially announced that she was running for U.S. president. With degrees from the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago Law School, Sen. Braun is the first and only African American woman to win a U.S. Senate seat and the first woman to serve on the powerful Senate Finance Committee. A member of the Illinois House of Representatives for 10 years, Braun served as Assistant Majority Leader. Then she served as Recorder of Deeds for Cook County and ran for U.S. Senate in 1992. Later, she was appointed to serve as U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand. Before ending her presidential candidacy, she participated in 14 Democratic debates and placed her name on more presidential primary ballots than any other woman running of a major-party nomination. |
In 2008, Sen. Hillary Clinton...
In 2008, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-New York) made historic progress in the campaign to elect a woman to the U.S. presidency.
Educated at Wellesley College and Yale Law School, the formerly First Lady of the United States campaigned with grace and dignity in a competitive race against future President Barack Obama, the first African American President of the United States. Thanking her supporters, she stated, "Although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it's got about 18 million cracks in it ... filling us all with the hope ... that the path will be a little easier next time." After serving as President Obama's first Secretary of State, she has continued to call for expanding opportunities for women and girls as "the great unfinished business of this century." |
In 2008, Republican Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin...
In 2008, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) became the first woman to run as the Republican Party's vice presidential nominee.
The former Mayor of Wasilla, Gov. Palin was chosen by Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona). Gov. Palin appealed to conservative voters as a self-proclaimed "Hockey Mom," a "Mama Grizzly," and a conservative woman with "common sense." She demonstrated comfort and familiarity with the great Alaskan outdoors, at times campaigning in camouflage and carrying a hunting rifle. She was nominated at the Republican National Convention in Saint Paul, Minnesota and campaigned as the vice presidential nominee throughout the general election. In the fall, she participated in the vice presidential debate against Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden (D-Delaware). The debate was broadcast live. |
The historic McCain/Palin ticket drew enthusiastic support from Republicans throughout the nation. Palin's popularity soared--particularly among conservative voters. While they did not win the election against President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, Palin's candidacy was a historic step forward for American women.
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In 2008, Former Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton
Stumped for Obama & Later Served As Secretary of State...
After a tough presidential primary season that saw a surprise victory by future President Barack Obama, Sen. Hillary Clinton signed on to stump for him on the presidential campaign trail during the general election.
Following then Sen. Obama's unexpected win in Iowa's early caucuses, Sen. Clinton won the New Hampshire primary--an historic first for American women. After Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008, the race was a virtual tie with 847 delegates for Sen. Obama and 834 delegates for Sen. Clinton. Obama won the next 10 victories in February. In March, Clinton came back with several wins, including Ohio. They split Texas; she won the primary but he won the caucuses and took more delegates. In April's only primary, Clinton won Pennsylvania. Still, Ohama had more delegates and popular votes. Yet Clinton had endorsements from more super delegates. The race remained close until June. When Obama secured the Democratic nomination for President, Clinton pledged her full support and vowed to do everything she could to help him get elected. This decision set the stage for her historic presidential campaign in 2016. |
Sen. Hillary Clinton's support for the Obama/Biden presidential ticket during the general elections helped Democrats win the White House. Thereafter, Sen. Clinton served as Secretary of State--the third woman, after Madeleine Albright and Condoleezza Rice.
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For more information, visit the Center for American Women and Politics...
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