Women are at the forefront of many of this year’s critical and most-watched races. From candidates for governorships making waves from red-to-blue states, to game-changing senate seats up for grabs, women are making their voices heard now more than ever. Pivotal issues, including equal pay for women, health care, and campus sexual assault are front and center in Washington and statewide with women leading the charge. While the 113th Congress boasted 20 female senators – more than any other Congress to date, women still only make up 24.2% of state legislators in the U.S. With only a few months until the November midterm elections, it’s down to the wire for many candidates striving to change all that and bring a female perspective to the table.
To showcase a year of textbook races for women, msnbc introduces ’30 in 30,’ a new series where the 30 of the most dynamic women candidates seeking office in 2014 will be spotlighted: One a day over the next 30 days. The candidates – Democrat and Republican – have answered questions based on women’s issues and being a woman in a male-dominated industry. Welcome to Day 30!
Name: Mary Landrieu
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Race: Louisiana Senate
Challenger: Republican Bill Cassidy
Here’s the deal: Landrieu — the first female U.S. Senator from Louisiana and first woman to head the Energy and Natural Resources Committee — faces Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy in a tight reelection race that could determine Democratic control in the Senate. Her brother, Mitch Landrieu, is mayor of New Orleans — a position her father, Maurice “Moon” Landrieu, previously held. Landrieu has distanced herself from the Obama administration throughout the 2014 campaign, including showing support for the Keystone XL oil pipeline and in one of her first ads of the cycle offering a “fix” to Obamacare. The Senator recently came under fire for using taxpayers’ money to fund charter flights throughout her campaign. After a review issued by her team was completed, the federal government was reimbursed.
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How has being a woman in a field dominated by men impacted your race so far?
Women care about solutions – whether it’s at the kitchen table or the board room – women just tend to be more collaborative and willing to work toward a fair solution and appreciate compromise. During my time in the Senate, I have worked with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to figure how to address the challenges facing our state: making sure our kids get a quality education, creating high-paying jobs, and securing a constant stream of revenue to restore our coast. My eyes are on and heart is always with the people of Louisiana and making sure I am doing the best that I can to find common ground and solutions to the challenges we face. I see that in my women colleagues as well.
What will you bring to Washington that your opponent can’t?
I have a proven record of working with leaders of both parties and partnering with leaders from across my state and the nation and all levels of government to get the important things done that will improve the lives of the people we serve. That means getting the job done to provide quality schools for every child, building levees that don’t break and infrastructure that will create jobs and help us compete in a global economy, and securing energy independence for our country that will create thousands of high-paying jobs in Louisiana and across the country.
I’ve worked with six governors and three presidents from both parties, and there hasn’t been one that I’ve agreed with everything on, but I’ve done my best to get the job done for Louisiana.
If elected, what will be your No. 1 priority?
To continue to expand and grow Louisiana’s and America’s middle-class by creating more high-paying jobs that people can build a future on. In February, Louisiana got the most important chairmanship for our state back when I was appointed to chair the Senate Energy Committee. With that gavel in our hands, I’m confident our country will be able to take full advantage of the energy revolution and build a prosperous future that all families can count on.
What can we expect to see from your campaign coming up?
I’ll be highlighting the leadership I have provided Louisiana over the last 18 years to deliver for the state when it matters the most. It is a leadership that is practical, passionate and gets the job done. I’ve worked with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents at the local, state, and federal level to establish revenue sharing to restore our coast, protect and grow Louisiana’s military installations, and keep the promises made to our veterans and our seniors in Social Security and Medicare. People may not agree with me on every issue, but they know where I stand and that I will fight for them when it matters the most. My opponents will have a hard time making that case for themselves.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to young women looking to pursue a career in politics today?









