Ghorbani's run for office inspires young women

By Eleanor Young

A record number of women are running for office this year. A total of 256 women have qualified for the November ballot in House or Senate races, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. This has had a big impact on the young women who are volunteering for those campaigns. One campaign is that of Shireen Ghorbani who is the Democratic Nominee for Utah’s 2nd Congressional District. 

Ms. Ghorbani recognizes the growing numbers in politically interested girls. 

“I absolutely see an increased interest in politics from young women. There are so many young women who are helping on our campaign, people who are out knocking on doors for the first time. But I think it extends beyond that. It extends to a whole realm of people that just don’t feel like they have a representative, or representation, that cares about them.” 

Grace Wason, a high schooler volunteering for her campaign, says why she wanted to get involved with politics, “It can get overwhelming thinking about everything that’s going on in the world and so for me to just know that I’m doing my part. I really can say that I put in all the effort that I can to shift Utah politics. So, it’s rewarding for me at the end of the day.” 

India Schoenherr, an intern working with Ms. Ghorbani, says, “I didn’t feel very represented, at all, as black woman in Utah. So when I heard of Shireen Ghorbani I was really interested. There’s just something very special about seeing a woman who believes in representing you. She hears your voice. To me, that’s so inspirational, and I love seeing that. Especially now with a lot of female politicians coming forward.”