Another primary has past and as we anticipate the coming elections in November, we can take a moment to put aside the partisan attacks to revel in the moment that is democracy. Whether you voted by mailing in your ballot or actually stood inside the ballot box yesterday, your vote counts. While CALIFORNIA [...]

After two years of campaigning, the 2010 primary election is less than one month away. At this stage in the candidate’s campaign, the ads start running, mail is sent, phone calls are made, and candidates walk their precincts to meet their constituents.
As the primary election has unfolded this season, I keep hoping the Democrats become [...]

“We are like dwarfs on the shoulders of giants, so that we can see more than they, and things at a greater distance, not by virtue of any sharpness of sight on our part, or any physical distinction, but because we are carried high and raised up by their giant size.”
John of Salisbury; Metalogicon
The [...]

As the election season intensifies, so do the political machinations. Sometimes politics can be so deceiving and malicious that we get angry and lose sight of how important it is to elect individuals who will govern.
This year is especially important. California has serious budget difficulties. While traveling this past week, someone asked me if California [...]

As the end of the first decade of the 21st century draws to a close, I find myself anxious to leave behind an era that has been dubbed “The Big Zero.” From health care to reproductive rights to equal pay, women’s rights were under assault. We see the writing on the wall that girls, like [...]

Our household back to school schedule began this week with my daughter Annie heading off to her first day as a junior in high school.  This year my mood borders on a more somber note as I contemplate what her future holds.  What kind of California will she inherit?

Bettina with Annie at Judy Chu’s Swearing-In Reception in Washington, [...]

Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed. ~Corita Kent~
A few weeks ago a friend of mine, Betty Wilson, whom I knew through the Los Angeles Women’s Political Committee, passed away. She was our secretary for years and years. As I listened to Rabbi Laura Geller eulogize her, I felt humbled [...]

A few days ago my daughter phoned from college with the news that she had been asked to run for the Executive Branch of student government at college. This comes as no surprise since this year Elizabeth was elected to serve on her student Senate. Bubbling with excitement Elizabeth relayed, “John is running for president, [...]

It’s time to spring forward into the 2010 election cycle.  As the days grow longer, CALIFORNIA LIST is busy spreading the sunshine of support for our women candidates! Congratulations to City Councilmember Wendy Greuel who is moving up the pipeline replacing Controller Laura Chick who will be termed out this year.  Wendy won her election to Los [...]

Today means so much to this country and to the world. I think the number one thing it means to me is that barriers are meant to be broken. There’s nothing that we can’t do, there’s no place where a person can’t strive to become whatever they want to be — no matter who they [...]

The spotlight on the long and historic Presidential election made our electoral season here in California electric. Days before the election candidates for Congress, the Senate and state legislatures were battling until the polls closed.
We are proud of our Democratic women candidates who ran phenomenal and competitive campaigns in really difficult races and WON! While [...]

There are three days left until we go to the polls drawing to a close an electrifying election season. Five of our State Senate and Assembly candidates are in tossup races and need your help to push them over the finish line:
Hannah-Beth Jackson (Senate District 19) is running against faux green energy entrepreneur Tony Strickland, [...]

Why are we all in shock that a woman whose current residence is the Governor’s mansion in Juneau would be chosen as the GOP vice presidential nominee?  Perhaps it is because she is so cold to our view of democracy and women’s rights that her ideals could have a terrifying effect here in California. She is the [...]

CALIFORNIA LIST Newsletter -Post Primary - June 2008
SLOW DECLINE OF WOMEN LEGISLATORS CONTINUES

While the nation’s political attention has been focused on the Democratic presidential primary election, our Democratic women candidates here in California ran competitive campaigns in really difficult races AND won! However, yesterday’s primary was a bittersweet victory.

CALIFORNIA LIST Newsletter - May 2008
Hunger For Change

This election has revved up our political process unlike anything we have seen in decades. Across the country, Democrats are showing up to participate in campaigns, and voting in record numbers. As the presidential campaign gets more and more interesting it is energizing voters across all partisian lines.[...]

Gender In Politics Today
By Bettina Duval, Founder, CALIFORNIA LIST
The current Democratic presidential primary race has proven to be historic on many fronts – the duration of the challenge, the diversity of the candidates, and the discussions which have been inspired.
Senator Barack Obama’s recent speech was a wonderful, honest, personal interpretation of feelings about race and [...]

Post Primary Update
California’s election on Tuesday saw a record turnout as voters came out in high numbers to cast their ballots for the Presidential primary and the ballot propositions. It was a good night for women in California. The narrow defeat of Proposition 93 means that the pipeline of women candidates running in 2008 will [...]

“Of my two “handicaps” being female
put more obstacles in my path than being black.”
- Former Presidential Candidate and Congresswoman, Shirley Chisholm
When Shirley Chisholm ran for president in 1972 only three women had ever held the office of Governor . . . all were elected as surrogates to replace their deceased husbands. At that [...]

CELEBRATING 2007 . . .
AND OUR FUTURE.
Message from Bettina Duval, President
As 2007 comes to a close we have much cause for celebration together — this year has been dominated by monumental steps for women and women political leaders.
For the CALIFORNIA LIST it has been a prosperous year of networking, implementing plans and building on our [...]

ELECTING WOMEN IS IMPORTANT.
IT’S ABOUT OUR FUTURE.
As the presidential campaign of 2008 continues with an intensity not normally seen so early in the election cycle, it is a politically charged historic moment at home and around the globe. Hillary Clinton running for president changes the paradigm – a qualified, competent, competitive woman is the frontrunner [...]