About

Vote Mama envisions a political system that actually works for moms — and policies that actually work for families.

Through direct lobbying, grassroots action, and civic education, Vote Mama Lobby is dismantling structural barriers, enabling more parents to serve, and empowering everyday moms to become powerful advocates.

The truth is: wealthy, white, land-owning men intentionally built a political system that shut women out. We still live with that legacy today — and we are done asking permission to change it.
Whether it’s passing Campaign Funds for Childcare in all 50 states or getting changing tables into state legislative buildings, Vote Mama Lobby is driving real wins that make it possible for moms to lead.

We are the only organization fighting to adopt Campaign Funds for Childcare (CFCC) and Campaign Funds for Security (CFS) nationwide. These are critical reforms that allow more moms of young kids to run — and serve safely.

But our work isn’t only about candidates. It’s about every mom who wants to make a difference. Special interests benefit when moms are intimidated by politics. We make staying informed and taking action easier — because when moms lead, we all win.

Our founder and CEO, Liuba Grechen Shirley, was working a job she loved when had her first kid. The childcare waitlist was years long, and even if a spot had opened up, it would’ve cost half of her take-home pay. She didn’t want to leave her job—and probably derail her career—but there was no other option.

Liuba wasn’t a career politician and didn’t think she’d run for office as a mom with little ones. But experiencing firsthand how our country’s policies fail women and children, she saw how desperately change was needed—and she wasn’t going to wait for someone else to fix it.

In 2018, now with two toddlers, Liuba ran for Congress against a 25-year incumbent. During that campaign, she struggled with the cost of childcare. She didn’t receive a salary as a candidate, campaigning was a full-time commitment, and she didn’t have the personal wealth to pay for childcare out of pocket.

So, Liuba changed the system. She became the first woman to secure approval from the Federal Election Commission to use Campaign Funds for Childcare (CFCC).

Liuba didn’t win her congressional race, but she founded Vote Mama Lobby in 2020 to continue the fight for progress. We work to demystify politics, bring people together, and harness our collective power to demand change. We are the only organization working to expand CFCC, and measures like it, to all 50 states, changing the political landscape of who can feasibly run for office.