KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Every vote counts for Democrats wanting to challenge President Donald Trump in November, and a local political group said the women's vote will be an important voting block for candidates.
On March 10, voters in Missouri will choose between Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard for the Democratic nomination for president. On May 2, Kansas voters go to the polls for the Democratic primary.
Laura Loyacono with the non-partisan political group, Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus, said it's important that women get to the polls.
"The most important thing is that we vote. We can't change anything if our voices aren't heard. And the loudest way that we can make our voices heard is getting involved in campaigns, staying involved in the issues and voting," Loyacono said.
Loyacono added that issues that matter for women are the same as other voters. She felt former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren addressed those concerns and said it's frustrating her message didn't resonate with more voters on the campaign trail.
"We know that women are held to a higher standard, particularly older women and women of color. We may say and do the same that men candidates do, but they're just a lot tougher on the way she looks and sounds and addresses people and that's ultimately frustrating for us," she said.
Despite the frustration, Loyacono said women are breaking glass ceilings in other levels of government.
"We're seeing women run at local levels and at state levels in state legislatures and in governorships, mayor's offices like never before," she said.
Loyacono added it's important women be involved in government to bring change.
