Who to vote for if you care about paid leave

With so many political topics swirling around the 2024 election, there’s one economic issue that families across the country are rallying behind: paid leave. Support for paid family leave is at an all-time high – and this is the year to do something about it. In January, In the style surveyed more than 2,000 women and non-binary people across the country and asked participants about a range of issues, including economic opportunity, gun violence, immigration policy and school curriculum. Of those surveyed, 57 percent said they would vote for a presidential candidate based primarily on economic issues and 30 percent said paid parental leave is an economic issue they wish political leaders would see approach.

The right to paid family or medical leave is not currently protected under U.S. federal law, but several proposals (such as the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act) are being developed – and candidates are fighting to get them adopted. Oath, a platform that helps donors maximize their impact on the issues they care about, helped us identify congressional candidates who receive paid parental leave as part of their platform:

1. Yadira Caraveo – American House CO-08
2. Jahana Hayes – American House CT-05
3. Julia Letlow – American House LA-05
4. Jessica Morse – American House CA-03
5. Emilia Sykes – American House OH-13
6. Jacky Rosen – US Senate from Nevada
7. Andrea Salinas – American House OR-06
8. Stéphanie Bice – American House OK-05
9. Colin Allred – US Senate from Texas

Another organization fighting for the changes moms and families deserve is Moms First, which held its inaugural summit in New York on May 14, 2024. The schedule was filled with impactful speeches, panels and discussions bringing together a community of over a million moms and supporters. Notable speakers include Katie Couric and Hillary Clinton, as well as In the style Editor-in-Chief Sally Holmes and Editor-in-Chief Danielle McNally.

Paid vacations were on the agenda. New York Governor Kathy Hochul highlighted the state’s new prenatal leave policy, a first in the nation: 20 hours of paid leave for a pregnant person to attend appointments prenatal medical care (the law comes into force in 2025); Clinton highlighted the “almost visceral” reaction that some people (members of Congress, employers) had to provide paid parental leave during the campaign to pass President Biden’s Build Back Better plan; and Moms First founder Reshma Saujani talked about the expansion of paidleave.ai, their tool for navigating the complex and confusing system of signing up for the benefit (if you’re lucky enough to be eligible). A full recording of the day’s events can be found here.

If having a federal paid parental leave program is important to you, vote, donate and spread the word.