Hillary Clinton: I hope a 'wave of young women' run for office

Months after her failed bid to become America’s first female president, Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that she hopes to soon see a “wave of young women” run for office.

“Let us hope there is a wave of young women running for office in America,” Clinton said, accepting an award at a New York luncheon for the nonprofit organization Girls Inc. “And let’s be sure we support them in every way we can. Let’s help them shatter stereotypes and lift each other up.”


“They are the history-makers and glass-ceiling breakers of tomorrow,” she added. “They are among the reasons I am so optimistic about our future.”

Clinton’s remarks, greeted by applause, avoided commenting on partisan politics and instead offered a general message in favor of girls’ empowerment and gender equality. The gist of the speech was encouraging advocates for women to keep going despite what Clinton described as “setbacks.”

“Our work is far from over,” Clinton said. “In big ways and small, the unfinished business of the 21st century is the full equality of women. There are still too few women in the upper reaches of the private sector, academia, science, technology, not to mention politics and government.”

Clinton acknowledged that some women are currently “discouraged” — a reference, seemingly, to her supporters dismayed by the election of President Donald Trump.

“Sometimes, the road to progress can feel like it’s two steps forward, one step back, particularly when it comes to advancing the rights, opportunities and full participation of women and girls,” Clinton said. “It can seem discouraging, whether you’ve been on that road for a long time or you’re just starting out.”

“But,” she added, “think how different the world would be today if the people who came before us had not just gotten discouraged, but because of that, had given up.”

At a couple points, Clinton indirectly addressed Trump. She made positive references to January’s Women’s March on Washington, which drew hundreds of thousands of people to the capital to protest the president, and the political coverage in the young women’s magazine Teen Vogue, which has been highly critical of Trump.

And she noted her own defeat, if slyly: “I’ve had my ups and my downs in the last months,” she said, to some laughter. “I’ve done my share of sleeping, little soul-searching and reflecting, long walks in the woods.”