Thirteen women Senators lined up behind Hillary Clinton last night at a campaign event in Washington, DC to endorse her for President of the United States.
In a historic showing, Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) all appeared to offer their support for their former colleague.
Each Senator, speaking in ascending order of seniority, gave a rousing endorsement of Clinton, highlighting her long-standing public service, her strong grasp of foreign affairs, and her commitment to women’s rights and progressive values. The crowd of more than a thousand, including Feminist Majority President Eleanor Smeal and other women leaders, chanted “Madame President!” in preparation for January 2017 and responded with a resounding yes when asked if they were ready for Hillary.
“If you’re ready for me, I’m ready for you,” Clinton said as she took the stage.
Clinton gave an impassioned speech outlining broad support for women’s health and abortion rights, closing the gender wage gap, strengthening civil rights, criminal justice reform, and LGBT equality. She lambasted politicians who continue to deny climate change and spoke about the need for a more equitable tax code, affordable child care, and other economic policies that would help boost women workers and the middle class. Clinton also committed to protecting Social Security, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act from Republican attack, and emphasized her foreign policy expertise as a former Secretary of State.
Several other members of Congress were in attendance last night as well as former Senator Mary Landrieu from Louisiana. Clinton thanked everyone for their support, especially the women with whom she served in the US Senate. Noting their “courage and smarts,” Clinton expressed, “It was the honor and privilege of my life to serve with them.”