Welcome to the Media Round Up! Each week we’re collecting and sharing our favorite gender + politics stories.

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Juliana Stratton Jumps in the Senate Race
POLITICO, Shia Kapos

On Thursday morning, Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton announced that she is running for a Senate seat. Following Sen. Dick Durbin’s announcement that he will not seek reelection in 2026, Stratton launched her campaign by emphasizing the importance of the middle class and attacking the current administration. Stratton, a former state representative and director of the Center for Public Safety and Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has called attention to criminal justice issues during her tenure as lieutenant governor. She likely will not be alone in her bid for the seat, as other Democrats – such as Rep. Robin Kelly – are expected to announce campaigns in the coming days and weeks.

A Charm Campaign

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with both President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance last Thursday, launching a “charm-offensive” with the two in back-to-back meetings. Meloni, who looked to “cement” her position as a favored partner within the administration, told the Oval Office in a joint press conference that she supported Trump’s fight against diversity and inclusion efforts; she also promised to buy more U.S. gas and invest in American companies, hoping that this might convince Trump to partially reduce or even eliminate some of the threatened tariffs on Italian and European imports. Since the right-wing politician’s stock is high with Trump, the European Union hopes that their meeting can convince Trump to walk back his threat of tariffs, as previous attempts by other European leaders to persuade the president have fallen short.

Rep. Haley Stevens Joins an Increasingly Crowded Michigan Senate Race
The New York Times, Katie Glueck

Representative Haley Stevens (D) has joined the race for Michigan’s upcoming Senate election in 2026. She represents suburbs in Detroit, a position she’s held since 2019 when she flipped the long-held Republican seat. Stevens previously worked as chief of staff for the Obama administration’s auto task force and is now chair of the New Democrat Coalition Action Fund. The race is expected to be tight, with other Democrats announcing their candidacy, including Michigan state Senator Mallory McMorrow. In her campaign announcement video, Stevens characterized the state’s auto industry as, “…the Michigan that helped build this country. The Michigan that shaped me.”

Longtime California Congresswoman Barbara Lee Wins Oakland Mayoral Race
UPI, Mark Moran

Former Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) has won the mayoral race in Oakland, California. She previously held office in Congress for 27 years but retired last year after an unsuccessful Senate run. Lee has vowed to boost the city’s economy and ease racial tensions. Speaking of her win, Lee said, “We have to bring people here who understand the beauty and opportunities in Oakland and who will work with us to help us move this beautiful city forward.”

Jan Schakowsky Planning May 5 Retirement Announcement
Politico, Nicholas Wu and Shia Kapos

Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) is planning to announce her retirement, according to sources close to her. She has served the 9th District since 1998, which includes part of Chicago and some of its northwest suburbs. Schakowsky currently serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, as well as the Congressional Progressive Caucus. She is a long-time supporter of healthcare reform and senior citizen advocacy. Schakowsky is expected to announce her retirement at her annual Ultimate Women’s Power Lunch in Chicago on May 5.

Governor Hobbs Partners with DOJ to Boost Jobs for Former Inmates in Arizona
KVOA, Zachary Jackson

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs (D) signed an executive order to start Arizona’s Reentry 2030 program. A collaboration with the Department of Justice and Council of State Governments, it aims to boost employment opportunities for former inmates by providing workplace development, vocational, and apprenticeship training. It hopes to reduce recidivism rates and enhance public safety by giving former inmates a new start.

Record Numbers of Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native Women Elected to State Legislatures
The Hill, Elizabeth Crisp

According to an analysis following the 2024 elections, record numbers of minority women are serving in state legislatures this year. The Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University found that the number of female state legislators has trended up nationally, as more than a third of state legislative seats are now held by women. This is the largest segment ever recorded, at more than five times the rate of female representation in 1971. The analysis also found “record-breaking diversity” among women elected to legislatures: almost 400 Black women are serving in statehouses this year, 214 Latina state lawmakers beats last year’s record of 192, and women who identify as Native American, Native Hawaiian, or Alaska Native hold 44 seats, up from 2023’s record of 36. Advocates for female representation in elected office still say that the numbers fall short of demographics, since women constitute slightly more than half of the U.S. population.

Women’s Healthcare Research Funding Cut

The Trump administration has shutdown most of a federal project targeted at expanding women’s healthcare research. The Women’s Health Initiative (NIH) began in the 1990s and is funded by the National Institute of Health with regional centers in California, New York, Ohio, and North Carolina. Each center has been told their contracts will be eliminated in September. Over 160,000 women have been part of the study, 40,000 currently, and it has provided crucial research into women’s health, especially older women. It has provided valuable data on menopause, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and cancer. Marian Neuhouser, chair of its steering committee, said, “It’s a huge loss. I can’t put into words what a huge loss it is.” Women’s health research is too important to be affected by budget cuts, Dr. Sarah M. Temkin argues. She is a former associate director at the NIH’s Office of Research on Women’s Health. It wasn’t until 1993 that women were required to be part of federally funded research after the NIH’s founding in 1887. In 2021, Dr. Temkin found that gaps in women’s healthcare research in the NIH persisted. Women are disproportionately impacted by conditions like migraines, autoimmune diseases, and mental health issues. Women deserve equal research scope and funding, Dr. Temkin says, “women’s health needs must not continue to be overlooked.”

A Push to Have More Children

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has been considering a “chorus of ideas” to persuade Americans to get married and have more children. In response to a desire to reverse declining birthrate trends and push conservative family values, the White House is assessing ways to encourage the nuclear family: one proposal would give a $5,000 “baby bonus” to American mothers after a delivery, while another calls on the federal government to educate women on their menstrual cycles so they can better understand when they are able to conceive. At the same time, however, the United States is facing an “ongoing maternal mortality crisis,” and fears about the danger that giving birth poses in the country still remain widespread. The continued debate over women’s reproductive health has had “widespread ripple effects,” since the Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade in 2022, leaving many women afraid to start a family.

Female Soldiers Will Have to Pass ‘Sex-Neutral’ Physical Test, U.S. Army Says
The New York Times, Jonathan Wolfe

On Monday, the U.S. Army announced that women in combat roles will have to pass the same “sex-neutral” physical test as male soldiers. The new test, called the Army Fitness Test, will replace the current Army Combat Fitness Test, and will “enhance Soldier fitness, improve warfighting readiness, and increase the lethality of the force,” the Army stated in its announcement. The change, which comes weeks after defense secretary Pete Hegseth called for the elimination of lower physical fitness standards for women in combat, could impede the Army’s ability to recruit and retain women in “particularly dangerous” military jobs. The test will be given to active duty soldiers twice a year; if soldiers fail two times in a row, they are subject to removal from the branch.

The UK’s Anti-Trans Ruling Is a Defeat for All Women
The Nation, Sophie Lewis

Last week, the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of the “biological” definition of a woman, unanimously agreeing that transgender women should not be recognized as women. Though some self-described feminists celebrated the decision, many feel that the ruling is a “defeat” for women around the world: the verdict is synonymous with the American one “defending women against gender ideology extremism,” perhaps indicative of a global anti-trans sentiment. Though the ruling is limited to defining the word “woman” within the scope of the county’s Equality Act of 2010, in practice, the impacts of the decision are likely to be larger than the court initially suggested.

Karen Durbin, 80, dies; ‘fearless’ feminist who edited the Village Voice
The New York Times, Sam Roberts

Karen Durbin, famous feminist journalist and second woman to ever serve as editor-in-chief of The Village Voice, has died. She worked to expand the publication with stories and coverage about sexual liberation, gay rights, and counterculture. She aimed to bring “color” and “joy” to the publication after it had largely focused on muckraking and corruption. Before focusing on journalism full-time, Durbin received a BA in English from Bryn Mawr College and worked in the New York City Department of Environmental Protection as a spokeswoman. She is remembered by friends and family as a fierce advocate for feminist issues and expanding women’s journalist roles.

Stacey Abrams Considers Third Run for Governor as Some Georgia Democrats Move on
AJC Politics, Greg Bluestein

Former Rep. Stacey Abrams (D) is at the “center of speculation” over whether she will mount a third campaign for Georgia governor after back-to-back losses in her two previous gubernatorial bids. Unlike her last run, Abrams’ deputies are staying silent about her future plans – though most officials doubt she’ll run again, she has not officially ruled it out. With “sky-high” name recognition, a vast fundraising network and national prominence, Abrams would become a “de-facto front runner” against virtually any primary opponent should she enter the race. Some Georgia Democrats, however, feel that she is too polarizing to ever win the state’s top office.

The Political Education of Karoline Leavitt
Politico, Adam Wren

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has had a long interest and career in politics despite being the youngest Press Secretary ever. As a student at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire, she wrote multiple articles for their student newspaper about the 2016 election and her support for Trump. Leavitt would then host a show at her college news station, launching that into working for a local television news station, before being accepted into the White House Internship Program under Trump’s first administration. There, she would work in public outreach before working under Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany and as communications director for Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY). Leavitt would launch her own Congressional bid in 2021 for New Hampshire’s Representative seat. Though she lost, Leavitt gained the favor of Trump and his supporters, leading to her becoming the administration’s spokeswoman. She now has a reputation among Republicans and the White House of being tough and devoted to conservative ideals.