It is both an honor and a privilege to take on the role of president of the League of Women Voters of California. This is a critical time for our nation and for our democracy, and I step into this role with humility, gratitude, and a deep sense of purpose.

First, I want to thank Chris Carson, our outgoing state president, for her steady leadership, clear-eyed determination, and sharp wit. She has guided us through challenging times, and I am grateful she will continue working with us on important issues at the state level.

My own path has been shaped by many meaningful experiences. I was born and raised in Hawai‘i in a multicultural community. College brought me to the East Coast, where I earned a journalism degree, co-founded a bilingual Chinese-English newspaper serving Boston’s Chinatown, produced a public affairs TV program, and served on the national board of the YWCA. There, I worked alongside extraordinary women in the fight for racial justice.

In 1987, I moved to California, worked on my first political campaign, and joined the San Jose Planning Commission. That experience deepened my understanding of land use, CEQA, and the impact of local decision-making. After retiring, I became active with the League in San Jose, eventually serving as President. Later, as Vice President for Program and Advocacy at the state level, I worked closely with our staff and gained a deep appreciation for how smart policy can lead to long-term, meaningful change.

Today, we are facing direct threats to constitutional rights and democratic institutions. We cannot sit back. At our Convention, Deputy Director Dora Rose and others reminded us that this is not a new fight. It is the work we have always done. Thanks to her leadership, our dedicated staff, and more than 60 local Leagues across California, we are standing strong and ready for what lies ahead.

This work belongs to all of us. Every voter you register, every issue you explain, every policy you push forward, that is the League in action. That is how we build power, protect democracy, and create real change.

Now is the time to recommit. We are not afraid. We will not be silenced. For more than 100 years, the League has stood strong, grounded in our principles and powered by our members. That legacy continues with you.

As part of the national Unite and Rise 8.5 campaign, we will work together to activate one million voters in California. We will not sit this moment out. We will raise our voices, show up in our communities, and do the work required to build a stronger, more inclusive democracy.

I look forward to doing this work, united with you. 

In League,

Gloria Chun Hoo
President
League of Women Voters of California