Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, from Veep And Seinfeld fame, opened a discussion with Democratic female governors on Wednesday with a sentence guaranteed to elicit laughs: On stage, she said, she would be joined by “eight highly intelligent, highly capable female leaders for the 21st century … or what JD Vance would call a coven of half-menstruating witches.”
This was the first of many direct attacks from the panelists who are in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention. On stage were Governors Laura Kelly (Kansas), Maura Healey (Massachusetts), Katie Hobbs (Arizona), Janet Mills (Maine), Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan), Michelle Lujan Grisham (New Mexico), Kathy Hochul (New York) and Tina Kotek (Oregon).
Louis-Dreyfus, who in Vice President, joked that she would run for office herself after playing a politician on television.
Discussion ranged from how many governors could recall their state flower (the only “trick question,” Louis-Dreyfus said) to fighting for women’s reproductive rights, stopping recall attempts and confronting combative lawmakers. But the overarching theme of the day was the courage it takes to make decisions in predominantly male-dominated fields and how governors helped each other weather legislative attempts to restrict abortion access.
The event was hosted by the Democratic Governors Association and the DGA’s Women Governors Fund and was a hot topic in Chicago during a busy week of high-profile convention-related events with prominent guests.
There are 12 female governors in the country, including four Republicans. But, Louis-Dreyfus said, “0% of our presidents” have been women – and her hope that Vice President Kamala Harris would soon change that drew huge applause, playing to a friendly crowd full of Democrats.
“Personally, I feel like I’ve been smiling for a month,” said Louis-Dreyfus. “We laugh, I cry. To be honest, I’m damn exhausted, but we’re full of new hope and joy.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer told a panel discussion at the Democratic Governors Association that being underestimated as a politician is an advantage. “People write us off.”
Although female governors are still in the minority – about a quarter of all states have a woman as their head of government – Whitmer of Michigan said there are also advantages to being a woman in politics.
“I would also say that being underestimated in any debate, no matter how you present yourself, is a huge advantage,” Whitmer said. “People write us off. (They) don’t expect us to look at issues as deeply or articulate a vision as thoughtfully or be as tough as everyone on this panel, and I would much rather be underestimated than overestimated.”
She also added, “We can rock some great colors too, right?” (Grisham, who was seated to her right, wore a hot pink suit.)
But Kelly of Kansas – the new chair of the Democratic Governors Association (a post vacated by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz after he was nominated for the national nomination) – said she believes women will not be underestimated for much longer.
The conversation often turned to the topic of reproductive rights. Hochul of New York drew huge applause when she spoke about efforts in her state to protect abortion access. Two other governors on stage, Kelly and Hobbs of Arizona, cite states where abortion access has been restricted by Republican-led state legislatures since the Roe v. Wade ruling was overturned in 2022. Each described their attempts to protect women.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul answers questions during a panel discussion on female governors in Chicago.
“We are under extreme restrictions in Arizona and pregnant women don’t have access to the care they need,” Hobbs said. “We are surrounded by pro-abortion states – California, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado – and we are working to make sure people get the care they need.”
And, says Hobbs, voters in their state will be able to decide in November. whether access to abortion should be made a constitutional right.
Louis-Dreyfus – who described herself as a “tried and true Democrat” in an interview on the Pod Save America podcast this week – said she is focused on the races for the lower spots on the ballot this election cycle.
The governors also stressed the importance of these offices and the need to bring more women into government.
“To all the women listening: run. Just run,” Louis-Dreyfus said. “Do it.”
When she joked on television about running for office herself after her role as a politician, Hochul chimed in: “You are better qualified than Donald Trump.”
Streaming Louis-Dreyfus’ HBO show Vice President, in which she plays fictional Vice President Selina Meyer, has skyrocketed since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and Harris became the nominee. Viewership has increased an incredible 350%Despite some eerily similar storylines, however, the Democratic candidate is no Selina Meyer, Louis-Dreyfus said.
“To VeepI played a narcissistic, megalomaniacal sociopath and that is not Kamala Harris,” she said in a performance At the beginning of the week on The Late Show with Stephen Colbertwhose filming will continue until Thursday at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago. “There could be another candidate in the running.”
The panel of governors was a hot topic in Chicago during a busy week of high-profile events surrounding the convention with prominent guests.
Asked what advice they could give Harris, Grisham of New Mexico said, “She doesn’t need our advice.” Hochul was more practical: “Don’t read the comments.”
The biggest crowd favorite, however, was Healey from Massachusetts, who summed up the general mood in the room.
“Know, Kamala, that there are girls and women out there, across America, across the world, who are waiting for this to happen, and more who need to see it happen.”
Courtney Kueppers is an arts and culture reporter at WBEZ.
