BUFFALO (WBEN) - On Monday, Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul was in Buffalo to attend the 29th annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Breakfast at the Buffalo Convention Center.
After her speech, which focused mainly on the legislative initiatives to ensure equality and justice for minorities and women on a statewide level, she discussed her thoughts on the recent emergence of women in politics -
especially now that several women now intend to run for President in 2020.
A pretty amazing thought today: Four women are already running for president in 2020, which will mark exactly 100 years since women gained the right to vote. So proud of how far we’ve come, and excited to see what we’ll do next.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand)
January 21, 2019 I'm running for president. Let's do this together. Join us: https://t.co/9KwgFlgZHA pic.twitter.com/otf2ez7t1p
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris)
January 21, 2019 A record 131 women will serve in the 116th Congress – this is what change looks like.Proud to be in the fight for Massachusetts families alongside my friends, @RepPressley, @RepLoriTrahan, and @RepKClark. https://t.co/b0OlgJm0Xf
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren)
January 17, 2019 "Part of it is that Hillary Clinton did break the glass ceiling in becoming the very first woman to be the nominee of a major party to run for President," said Hochul. "So, that was shattered back a few years ago, and so I think women are benefiting from the fact that there already was a first, and it's a lot easier for the next wave to come in."
Hochul also credits President Trump, in a way, for lighting the fire under many women.
"I think it's a pushback against the Trump administration," said Hochul. "When you realize there's a lot of policies pertaining to women that aren't being addressed properly - whether it's reproductive health, something we're going to address here in the State of New York - or it's the 'Me Too' movement, and how you have someone in the office of President who obviously, before he became President, did not show respect to women in terms of how he spoke about them or treated them, and the things he admitted with his own words."
She also recognized that New York is beginning to see a number of women taking prominent offices of power.
"Having Crystal Peoples-Stokes [State Assembly majority leader> in a great position, and Tish Jame [state attorney general>, so I'm no longer the only statewide woman official," she said.
I am humbled & honored to be selected Majority Leader-elect for 2019 Leg Session.Thank you Mr. Speaker. As both the first woman & minority to hold this position in NYS’s long history, I will continue to put people before politics & proudly represent WNY & the Majority Conf.
— CrystalPeoplesStokes (@CPeoplesStokes)
December 17, 2018 Thank you New York. Tonight we made history.This is a night for justice, a night for our future.I am proud to be a New Yorker who knows it's our diversity, strength, courage and determination that makes us great.As your Attorney General I promise to fight for all of us. pic.twitter.com/J9QkzeALoa
— Tish James (@TishJames)
November 7, 2018 Although the number of women involved in the national political scene is certainly on the rise, Hochul says there's more to be done. She says that she'd like to see more women desire and strive to be public servants from a young age.
"I want them to see themselves as possible leaders and to go on a path toward public service because it's enormously satisfying to do what I've been blessed to do my entire life, which is to serve my community," said Hochul.
