Welcome back to our new periodic community newsletter, where you’ll get a glimpse into what the greater WomenCount community is reading, watching and listening to as we make our way through Trump’s second term. 

Tuesday marked the first 100 days of that second term—but frankly, we’ve heard enough about Trump and the horrible things he’s been doing, so we are dedicating this newsletter to Democratic women and what they have accomplished in the first 100 days.

🗳️ Elections Matter: Historic Firsts & Other Gains at the Ballot Box

Who Is Susan Crawford? [NYT]
Before she was a judge, she was a lawyer working on Democrat-aligned causes, including on a case that challenged Wisconsin’s voter ID law.

Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee shares plan for her first 100 days [The Oaklandside]
Her first order of business: Bring together police, business owners and local leaders to coordinate and improve public safety.

Why 2025 Is Virginia’s Most Consequential Election in Decades (Or Ever) [RVA Magazine]
An interview with Abigail Spanberger, Democratic nominee for Virginia Governor—the most competitive statewide race this year.

Once again, a Trump win has ‘insiders’ questioning women’s electability. [NBC News]
Rep. Mikie Sherrill is the only woman running for governor of New Jersey this year—and polls show she has the best chance to hold this Democratic seat.

🏁 Girls to the Front: Women Vying to Lead the Democratic Party

Read Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s full Democratic response to Trump’s joint address to Congress [PBS]
She beat her Republican Senate opponent in 2024 in a state that helped give Trump a second term in the White House. Democrats are hoping to spread her secret sauce nationwide.

Slotkin’s ‘war plan’ to beat Trump. She wants Dems to ditch wokeness and muscle up [Politico]
And post-SOTU response, she’s planning a series of speeches laying out her vision. Her plan is already causing a stir among fellow lawmakers and voters.

Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez Electrify Democrats Who Want to Fight Trump [NYT]
Thousands of people are turning out, even in deep-red states like Idaho and Montana.

🥊 Getting Sh*t Done: Concrete Actions Thwarting Trump & Supporting Women

Gov. Mills stood up for Mainers and for state law [ME Morning Star]
Trump tried to bully Maine into rolling back trans rights in exchange for Title IX funding. Maine’s governor said, ‘I’ll see you in court.’

LIVE: Dem Governor TOWN HALL on Trump 100 DAYS [MediasTouch – YouTube]
A group of Democratic governors, including Maura Healey (MA) and Kathy Hochul (NY), are organizing a coordinated effort to fight Trump’s policies, most critically his devastating tariffs.

Rep. Brittany Pettersen on the Defeat of Proxy Voting [Glamour]
A special pre-Mother’s Day shout out to Rep. Brittany Pettersen (CO-7), who has held up House votes in a bid to get Republican leaders to allow proxy voting. For now, she’ll keep bringing her newborn to the House floor until the issue is settled.

Thanks for reading (this newsletter, and our recommendations)!