Once upon a time in a land far, far away from Washington, DC called Texas, a feisty, sharp-witted, take-no-prisoners political activist seems to have passed her fiery baton to the women of the 116^th Congress and the six women running for President of the United States (POTUS) in 2020.

Governor Ann Richards took the right to vote very seriously, imploring everyone, especially women, to vote. “If you don’t participate (by voting), you let other people make decisions for you.” Those are words Richards allegedly said, based on the play about her, “Ann,” at the Arena Stage in Washington, DC., adding, “Bad things happen when good people don’t vote.”

Championing other candidates – imploring women with, “We need you to run for office!” – and being a formidable fundraiser was second nature to Richards, but it took cajoling by a small army of friends, family and supporters to convince Richards to run for Texas County Commissioner herself. When she was elected Governor of Texas in 1990, the second largest state in the union, with her distinctive style and decisions, she changed history. (She lost reelection to George W. Bush in 1994.) 

As we commemorate the centennial of the 19^th Amendment giving women the right to vote and open the book on a new chapter in American politics with the most women ever serving in Congress and running for POTUS, Richards’ story reminds us of the inner and outer battles women face in seeking career success. 

These were vividly and vibrantly depicted by Jayne Atkinson as Ann Richards in the play written by Holland Taylor, directed by Kristen Van Ginhoven.