Gina Luttrell

Today feels different. As we step into polling stations and cast our votes, it’s hard not to feel a shiver of excitement, maybe even apprehension, and the weight of history on our shoulders. We are on the cusp of something big – the potential to elect the first woman president of the United States. We’ve been here many times before. Probably more than you even realize. Victoria Claflin Woodhull (1872), Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood (1884 and 1888), Margaret Chase Smith (1964), Shirley Anita Chisholm (1972), Patsy Takemoto Mink (1972), Ellen McCormack (1976, 1980), Sonia Johnson (1984), Geraldine Ferraro (1984), Lenora Fulani (1988, 1992), Cynthia McKinney (2008), Jill Stein (2008, 2016), Hillary Rodham Clinton (2008, 2016), Carly Fiorina (2016), Tulsi Gabbard (2020), Kirsten Gillibrand (2020), Elizabeth Warren (2020), Marianne Williamson (2020, 2024), Amy Klobuchar (2020), Jo Jorgensen (2020), Nikki Haley (2024), and of course Vice President Kamala Harris (2020, 2024). I’m sure I’ve missed a couple.

This Election Day is not just another round of democracy in action; it’s a moment in history that women over a century ago couldn’t even have imagined, yet they fought relentlessly to make possible.

If you know me, you know my favorite suffragist is Alice Paul. I thought a long time about what she might think of today’s election. In my humble opinion, she was one of the boldest leaders of the women’s suffrage movement, a powerhouse who pushed boundaries to make sure women’s voices would be heard. She was part of both the American suffragist movement as well as the British. It was her tireless organizing, protesting, and even enduring prison sentences that propelled the fight for voting rights forward. Her vision was not just about casting a ballot but about equality – the kind that reshapes society. And in 1920, with the ratification of the 19th Amendment, American women were finally able to vote. But, as many women leaders knew, the right to vote was just the beginning.

For Alice Paul, it was never enough to just say we can vote. She believed we needed full equality in every corner of American life, and this belief led her to draft the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in 1923. The ERA was simple in its statement yet revolutionary in its intent: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” It’s a short sentence with enormous implications. Though it has not yet been fully ratified, it continues to stand as a bold statement of what could and should be.

Fast forward to today, and here we are, with a woman on the ballot for the nation’s highest office. It’s easy to think about how far we’ve come since Alice Paul, along with thousands of women and allies, walked streets, held banners, and demanded rights many thought they should not have. They laid the foundation that has allowed women today to push for new levels of equality and representation. Our mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers lived in a different world, one where a female president was little more than a dream.

Today, it’s a genuine possibility!

So, as we wait for the results to come in, let’s take a moment to honor the journey. Let’s remember that this is more than just a single election. It’s a milestone on a road paved with persistence, courage, and an unwavering belief in equality. No matter the outcome, the very act of seeing a woman stand as a top contender for president speaks volumes about where we’re headed. Let’s honor the women who came before us and those that will pave the way after we are long gone. No matter the outcome, the glass ceiling is cracking yet again… here’s to hoping it’s shattered.

This Election Day, cast your vote and know you’re part of a journey generations in the making—one that champions equality, honors the struggles of past trailblazers, and pushes us closer to a future where every voice can shape our nation’s highest offices. We’re not just voting for policies or parties; we’re voting with history on our minds and a future full of possibilities in our hearts.