How Busy Philipps And Vote Mama Are Making Motherhood Electable

Forbes

2 days ago

Since its founding in 2019, Vote Mama has endorsed more than 600 candidates. Its newest initiative, the Motherboard, is a coalition that unites elected officials, creatives, and movement leaders to amplify the political power of moms through culture, media, and policy. Co-chaired by actor and activist Busy Philipps and Georgia Congresswoman Nikema Williams, the Motherboard brings together cultural influence and political leadership to elevate moms in public office.
'When a mom runs for office, it's usually because something's broken and she's ready to fix it,' explains Liuba Grechen Shirley, founder and CEO of Vote Mama. 'That urgency (that lived experience) cuts through the noise.'
'Right now, it is more expensive than ever to raise a family. The cost of childcare is more than a mortgage in almost every state, and fundamental rights have been on the chopping block. Moms are talking about the issues that matter most, and they're not sugarcoating it,' explains Shirley.
What sets these candidates apart is their ability to turn everyday frustrations like finding affordable daycare, navigating public school systems and managing family health care into compelling campaign messages rooted in lived reality. 'We're seeing more moms run unapologetically as themselves. They're campaigning with babies in tow and putting childcare on the platform,' adds Shirley.
Philipps states she supports the Motherboard because they aren't about performative allyship. 'I've marched, donated, and spoken out. But it still didn't feel like enough,' she said. 'This organization is an engine for amplifying the issues I care about: abortion rights, paid family leave, maternal health, gun safety and reform, and LGBTQ+ rights. We need real power. Political power. If my platform helps moms running for office get attention, resources, and into rooms they're often shut out of, then I'm doing my job.'
This direct connection to family-centered policy resonates deeply with voters. 'People are exhausted and frustrated with performative politics,' Shirley said. 'They want leaders who prioritize action…. moms lead with urgency and empathy because they have to.'
'We launched the Motherboard ahead of Mother's Day to shake things up and to remind people that moms have always been at the frontlines of every major movement, from reproductive justice to gun violence prevention,' Shirley said. By elevating these stories on mainstream platforms, the Motherboard helps shift voter expectations about what leadership looks like, offering real-life, working-mom candidates as compelling, credible alternatives to the status quo.
Other Cultural & Creative leaders for the Motherboard include celebrity moms such as Amanda Seyfried and Jodie Sweetin. Philipps explains, 'By harnessing voices that sit at the intersection of media, culture, and policy, we will bring more people into this movement to support pushing moms into power.' She adds that the vision is simple: to connect political power with cultural influence, bringing elected officials and creatives into the same room to build something bigger than politics so they can drive systemic change.
As the only woman currently hosting a late-night talk show, Shirley believes Philipps brings both visibility and media savvy to the effort. 'When someone like Busy uses her voice to uplift a school board mama, it makes that mom and her vision become visible in a whole new way. When people see a state legislator like Virginia State Senator Jennifer Carroll Foy or New York Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas, it reshapes expectations of who's qualified to lead. That visibility changes perception, which drives engagement, donations, and ultimately, policy wins.'
Philipps believes she brings defiance as well. 'Watching my daughters grow up in a country where their rights are being stripped away, a society that encourages them to shrink themselves, stay quiet, and sit down–I can't be passive in that world. I've built a career out of being unapologetic for taking up space. I want to use that energy to help other moms step into their power.'
The Motherboard aims to turn storytelling into action. By increasing public awareness, driving donations and generating local enthusiasm, it plays a crucial role in moving the needle on who runs, who gets funded and who ultimately wins. Shirley says, 'We measure our wins not just in votes, but in whose stories are being told, who's stepping up to run next, and which policies are finally getting passed because we helped moms get the power to push them through.'
'For too long, moms have only been allowed to exist in one of two narratives: either we're perfect and self-sacrificing, or we're messy, selfish, and self-centered,' Philipps said. 'Real moms are complex. They're breastfeeding during briefings. Negotiating budgets before bedtime stories. Writing policy between school pick-ups and making dinner. The Motherboard is how we bust through closed doors, shake up the status quo, and give a loud, unapologetic voice to the people who've been told to wait their turn.'
Shirley says the Vote Mama PAC has endorsed nearly 70 candidates so far for 2025 and 2026. But as Election Day approaches, the Motherboard will play a key role in mobilizing voters, generating buzz and redirecting resources toward competitive races.
Shirley has a clear vision for what success looks like. 'Electing more moms to local offices like city councils and school boards, where real change for families happens. We're building long-term infrastructure to change the face of leadership at every level.' She wants this moment to be remembered as the turning point when moms stopped asking for a seat at the table and started taking the power to build a new one.
Philipps agrees. 'Look, awareness is the first step. It's the foundation for getting people engaged and involved. The next step is building the actual scaffolding that holds moms up politically.' She envisions a future where no mother feels forced to choose between her family and her ambition. 'Fundraising, mentorship, infrastructure, community… all of it,' she said. 'I want to help create a world where any mom can run for office without feeling like she's drowning under the weight of balancing motherhood and her political ambitions.'
To the working moms watching from the sidelines, those who may not see themselves as political but want to create change, Shirley has a clear message: you are political. 'If you're figuring out how to pay for daycare, fighting to keep your kids safe in school, or caring for a sick parent, you're already navigating policy every day,' she says. 'You don't need to be a policy expert. You just need the courage to lead and a commitment to your community.'
Philipps concludes, 'The reality is that most moms grow into their power because they became mothers. We need more stories to show how the chaos, care, and urgency of motherhood made them more empathetic, more determined, and more strategic. We need stories that normalize that narrative. Because storytelling is how we build representation, and that is how we change everything.'