Moneyzine
/Leadership Skills/First Woman President

First Woman President

Moneyzine Editor
Author: 
Moneyzine Editor
5 mins
September 26th, 2023
Advertiser Disclosure

Back in 2008, Barack Obama became the first African American President of the United States. With the presidential elections of 2020 on the horizon, Americans will have to wait another four years before it’s time to elect the first woman President.

In this article, we're going to provide a brief summary of the five women that have the experience, leadership ability, and political support to become the first woman elected the President of the United States. This list is based on a compendium of views, including those published by Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal.

The First Woman to be President

Back in February 2005, the Siena Research Institute conducted a nationwide poll of 1,125 registered voters. Interestingly, that poll was conducted in anticipation of a "First Women President" symposium held in March of the same year.

Findings from that poll indicate the ideal woman President would be a Democrat, with strengths in the areas of foreign policy, health care, and education. A follow up poll in 2007 indicated 25% of voters believed that Hillary Clinton would be the next President.

Note: While Hillary Rodham Clinton won the popular vote in the 2016 presidential election, she lost to Donald Trump, who garnered 304 electoral votes. This article will be update prior to the 2024 elections.

Kamala Devi Harris

Kamala Harris served as the junior United States senator since 2017. She was the second African-American woman and the first Asian-American senator. She was also the Democratic Party’s vice-presidential nominee in the 2020 election. She serves on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on the Judiciary and Committee on the Budget.

Kamala is a graduate of Howard University and the University of California’s Hastings College of Law. She began her career in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. After completing two terms as the District Attorney of San Francisco, Kamala was elected as the first African American and first woman to serve as California's Attorney General.

Kristen E. Gillibrand

Kirsten E. Gillibrand was sworn in as United States Senator from New York in January 2009. In November 2012, she was elected to her first six-year Senate term. Prior to her service in the Senate, she served in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New York's 20th Congressional District. Kristen is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Aging Committee.

Gillibrand graduated in 1984 from Emma Willard School in Troy, New York and graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College in 1988. She went on to receive her law degree from the UCLA School of Law in 1991.

Gillibrand withdrew from the 2020 presidential race in August 2019, after failing to qualify for the September 2019 debate.

Amy Klobuchar

In 2006, Amy Klobuchar became the first woman elected to represent the State of Minnesota in the United States Senate. Amy serves as Vice Chair of The Joint Economic Committee and is a member of the President's Export Council as well as the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

She also chairs the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer rights, which is responsible for oversight of antitrust enforcement at the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission. Amy also became a hero to many Democrats for her approach to questioning Brett M. Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings.

Amy was the valedictorian of her Wayzata High School class. She graduated magna cum laude from Yale University and the University of Chicago Law School.

Tulsi Gabbard

At the age of 39, Tulsi Gabbard is the only millennial and the youngest woman in the race. She is also an army veteran deployed to Iraq and Kuwait, and an advocate for sexually assaulted survivors in the military. Her platform centers on military-nonintervention, and she has spoken out strongly on the need to address climate change.

Elected in 2012 to the U.S. House of Representatives, Tulsi is a member of the Democratic Party. Her policy platform is considered economically and socially progressive. While she supports abortion rights and Medicare for All, she did vote against LGBT rights until 2004. However, she now supports same-sex marriages.

Gabbard is a 2009 graduate of Hawaii Pacific University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration.

Elizabeth Warren

Elizabeth is one of the most recognizable politicians in the 2020 presidential race. Warren has detailed proposals to eliminate student debt, provide universal childcare, tax millionaires, make public college free, as well as address the opioid crisis. Elizabeth has been serving as a United States Senator from Massachusetts since 2013.

Elizabeth Warren is a graduate of the University of Houston and Rutgers Law School. Prior to serving in the U.S. senate, she taught law at the University of Houston, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Pennsylvania, as well as Harvard University.

Elizabeth Warren serves on the Committee on Armed Services, Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and the Special Committee on Aging.


About the Author - First Woman President


Related Content

Is It Worth Pursuing a Master's Degree?
In an era where education is synonymous with opportunity, many consider pursuing a Master's degree a surefire way to advance their careers. However, is it really the golden ticket to success we've been led to believe?
March 21st, 2024
The gender pay gap, the persistent disparity in average earnings between men and women throughout their careers, serves as a critical measure of wage inequality. This gap underscores the ongoing issue of income disparity, despite the ideal of equal pay for equal work.
March 14th, 2024
7 Essential Financial Moves After Losing Your Job
Navigating the stormy seas of job loss? You're not alone.
February 23rd, 2024
The Most In-Demand Skills to Get Hired in 2024
Every job requires a combination of vital skills, but what skillset is valued most in 2024? As the job market evolves, staying ahead means it’s key to understand and acquire the skills that employers value most.
February 20th, 2024
Lead with Confidence: Ramsey Reveals How to Overcome Fear and Indecision in Leadership
As part of the Entree Leadership Master Series, Dave Ramsey, a celebrated founder and CEO of Ramsey Solutions, shares his wealth of experience and knowledge. He guides leaders through the intricate process of making impactful decisions.
February 14th, 2024

Contributors

Moneyzine 2024. All Rights Reserved.