In many election cycles, there is often a catchy term to describe the key voting demographic that could determine the outcome. From soccer moms to security moms and NASCAR dads, these labels have become ingrained in political discourse. Now, we have the “mama bears.” These conservative mothers and grandmothers, who have mobilized under the banner of “parental rights,” are advocating against discussions of gender identity in schools and have been labeled as extremists by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Interestingly, they are also highly sought-after voters in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Casey DeSantis, the wife of candidate Ron DeSantis, launched “Mamas for DeSantis” in Iowa and believes that moms and grandmas played a significant role in her husband’s landslide victory for a second term as Florida governor. She predicts that they will be instrumental in his presidential campaign as well. During a talk emphasizing her experiences raising children in the governor’s mansion, Casey DeSantis said, “When policies target us as mothers, we take notice. But when policies target our children, that’s when the gloves come off.”
These mama bears are predominantly white and may be affiliated with established groups such as Moms for Liberty, boasting 120,000 members, or smaller organizations like No Left Turn in Education. Their numbers surged during the COVID-19 pandemic when parents became more aware of what their children were being exposed to in public schools. Their growing discontent intensified after Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, believing it signaled excessive government involvement and the promotion of “woke” policies. They fought against school closures and mask mandates, advocated for the removal of diversity and inclusion programs, and sought to ban books they deemed inappropriate, particularly those with LGBTQ content. They even fielded candidates for school board positions.
Critics argue that the mama bear persona serves as a misleading cover for a harmful agenda that ultimately harms children. Katie Paris, the founder of Red, Wine and Blue, a network of women opposing GOP-backed policies like Moms for Liberty’s anti-LGBTQ and anti-trans efforts, states, “They may call it ‘parental rights’ or ‘mama bears’ to make it sound like common sense, but the reality is that it is just an extreme political agenda driven by a vocal minority.” Last year, conservatives aimed to elect hundreds of “parental rights” activists to school boards, with about one-third of the candidates supported by the allied 1776 Project PAC winning. Additionally, approximately half of the candidates endorsed by Moms for Liberty achieved success.
(Read more Republican presidential primaries stories.)
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