Watch Her Run: These 4 Women Are Taking on a Politician Near You
The coalminer’s daughter. The bartender. The police brutality activist. The grieving mother. Each looked at the man representing her in Congress and said, “I can do better.”
In 2018, more women are running for Congress than ever before. Many of them come from personal and professional backgrounds that are strikingly different from the majority of sitting members of Congress. These are the stories of four first-time candidates who all took a leap to challenge heavily-favored incumbents in primaries.
MORE: Watch our individual profiles of each candidate below.
The 28-Year-Old Latina Challenging New York’s Most Powerful Congressman
“The Boss of the Queens Machine” hasn’t faced a primary challenger in 14 years. But an underfunded upstart named Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is suddenly giving him a run for his money.
This Coalminer’s Daughter Is Mad as Hell—And Running for the U.S. Senate
Paula Jean Swearengin has seen West Virginia’s land exploited, its people fall ill, and its politicians do nothing. So she decided to do something herself.
This Ferguson Activist Wants to be Missouri’s First Black Congresswoman
Cori Bush is a registered nurse, a pastor and a mom. After taking to the streets to protest police killings, she looked in the mirror and said, “why not politician, too?”
The Grieving Mom Fighting for a Healthcare System That Actually Works
Amy Vilela lost her daughter when she couldn’t afford the medical bills. When her Congressman told her he wouldn’t support universal healthcare, Amy said, “I’m running.”
This project is excerpted from the upcoming documentary feature, Knock Down the House.
CREDITS: Director/ Producer/ Cinematographer: Rachel Lears
Producer/ Editor: Robin Blotnick
Music: Ryan Blotnick
Story Editor: Brendan Spiegel