Published
Apr 14, 2026 at 06:00 AM EDT
One would think the archaic thoughts of the leadership of women could be dismantled with a single tweet, sporadic and narcissistic speech at the United Nations or White House Lawn, or in a Truth Social post. Women, “too emotional to lead.” Women, “not strong enough to be taken seriously.” Women, “too fragile to make the hard decisions.”
In 2026, we are now left wondering if it is really women who fit these descriptors. The most dangerous and disgusting culprits accused in the Epstein files, election tampering allegations, kidnapping, raping and murdering young children and protesters (yes, you, ICE agents), disparaging women Olympic athletes, canceling cancer research, health care and social services agencies, have been by majority men.
In Louisville, Kentucky, we have seen strong, steady female leadership from our past County Clerk.
Barbara ‘Bobbie’ Holsclaw, a five-time reelected Republican in a predominantly Democratic district, was a testament to steady leadership and moderate values that translate across voters. After serving more than 25 years as County Clerk, Holsclaw’s legacy is cemented by change and the all too familiar case of leadership holding on past its expiration date. Holsclaw passed away after an illness in September of 2025, unable to complete her final term. At 83, Bobbie had given Jefferson County her all.
And now here I am…a Black woman running to take Holsclaw legacy to the next level.
My election to this seat would be historic. Louisville, Kentucky’s largest city, has never had a Black woman elected to an executive position with authority and power. Sure…we have plenty of judges, many metro council representatives, but not a single executive position.
I remember in 2024, when I spoke with our local newspaper about President Joe Biden suspending his reelection bid after his disastrous debate showing. The reporter asked what I thought of the idea of a “blitz primary” at the Democratic National Convention, and I remember talking about how Democrats have to stop overlooking the Black woman who is the most prepared for the role. That same sentiment translates to my current race.
A Black woman who has been a student of the office, supported change in the office as a community advocate, expanded community connections for the clerk’s office, served as a poll worker, and is beyond poised for the position. Yet Louisville’s Mayor chose a career politician who had little interaction with the clerk’s office other than getting his name on the ballot. Same old good ol’ boys club actions (insert major eye roll).
Yes, Vice President Kamala Harris had naysayers. And her historic 101-day run for president will go down in the history books of a campaign that had momentum but not enough time to reach voters to see her more than the narrow and often false stereotypes America has perpetuated against Black women in this country. And would you look at that? A year and a half later, every single action she predicted has come true—and even worse. Not because she had supernatural powers, but because the evidence was right in front of us and many Americans refused to see it. An open book test (Project 2025 was right in front of us), failed by millions of voters.
Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, who ran for the White House in 1972, said that the next woman to run for president would have it a little easier because she broke the trail. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton became a nominee because of her. Unfortunately, we are seeing that voters are being convinced that women can’t win. While Harris’ race was historical, it also reiterated the notion that Black women can’t win.
We saw this play out in Texas this year, with Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett’s primary loss. Voters walked out of polling places saying they cried because they felt they had no choice but to vote for a man in order to flip that Senate seat. Incredible work is being done by Black women politicians and there must be room made for more.
State Senator Colonel Pam Stevenson in my beloved home state, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, the nation’s first three-term Black woman Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington D.C., Senator Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, Detroit’s first woman and first Black woman Mayor Mary Sheffield, Mayors London Breed of San Francisco, Tishaura Jones of St. Louis, and Joi Washington of Media, Pa., to name a few. The future is female—and there’s no more denying or overlooking us.
In Louisville, we only have two candidates running for county clerk. Myself and my opponent. Both are Democrats. We align on many stances. The difference is experience in the office. When it was apparent that I was the expert for the role, being able to speak clearly about all aspects of the clerk’s office and my opponent could only speak to elections, the mayor gave him the interim job so he could have the experience.
Chisholm once said, “ Tremendous amounts of talent are lost to our society just because that talent wears a skirt.” Every day in America, women wake up and fight for positions they have been qualified for, are ready to jump in and serve, but we are told to wait our turn, take a seat, not yet.
In 2026, I’m not taking a seat, I’m winning the seat! Please visit my website to learn more and support the fight.
Rosalind Welch, a strategic community servant, is a native Louisvillian who is running for County Clerk in Jefferson County. She has spent the last 14 years in retail, managing customer interactions and experiences for one of the nation’s top retailers.
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.
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