Paz-Cedillos: A defining moment for our nation and our daughters

Tomorrow’s election is a pivotal moment, a tipping point with consequences that will echo for generations.

This isn’t just about choosing a leader. It’s about shaping the future of civil rights, women’s rights and justice. Regardless of the outcome, this election demands that we show up and show out today, tomorrow and in the days to come. Because ultimately, it’s about the legacy we leave our daughters to celebrate — or contend with.

If Kamala Harris wins, she will become the first Black female president, a historic landmark for representation. Yet, as many women leaders know, this victory comes with a double-edged sword. The barriers of race, gender and class she’ll face are steep, and in our deeply divided country, her leadership will be met with both immense hope and harsh scrutiny.

A Harris presidency would affirm what many of us already know: Our daughters can and should aspire to lead at the highest levels. As a leader who has championed women’s rights throughout her career, Harris’ election would signify an agenda that advocates for gender equity — reproductive rights, workplace protections and violence prevention. In a world where only 6% of CEOs are women, her election would stand as a powerful symbol of progress.

Reflecting on my own leadership journey — and those of my peers, other women of color at the height of their careers — I am reminded of both the privilege and weight we carry. It’s a balancing act, a tightrope walk between assertiveness and approachability, decisiveness and collaboration. Often, we’re told, directly or indirectly, that we don’t belong. Yet, for me, the emotional labor of leading as a woman of color is worth the privilege of not only championing just causes, but also enacting them.

For many of us, seeing Harris take her rightful seat at the head of the table will be profound. We will celebrate. And then, the heaviness will settle in because her presidency will amplify, on a global scale, the tightrope that women of color walk daily. We will see if our society can recognize these impossible challenges and extend her the same grace they would hope for themselves.

If the alternative wins, he would be the first convicted felon to hold the presidency — a stain on our nation’s history, underscoring how alive sexism and racism remain in America. His presidency would bring regressive policies that continue to erode our civil rights, as we saw during his first term.

In four years, he transformed the judiciary, appointing more than 200 federal judges, including three Supreme Court justices, and cementing a conservative majority. These appointments have had lasting effects on civil rights and reproductive freedom. The recent decision overturning Roe v. Wade eliminated federal protections for abortion, imposing life-altering restrictions, which disproportionately affect marginalized women already struggling for quality health care, safe housing and economic stability.

While it is true California has countered these rollbacks locally by enacting policies to protect reproductive rights and uphold civil liberties, even supporting those from restrictive states, the truth is that not all states have the resources or political will to do the same, leaving many vulnerable and underscoring the need for ongoing advocacy.

Tomorrow’s election will influence more than just policy — it will shape our daughters’ futures. We are at a crossroads. For them, for ourselves, we must commit to active political participation. No matter who wins, we must advocate for a nation where every girl can live in a world that values her voice and respects her choices.

This piece is for my daughter, a young girl just beginning to discover her place in the world. At eight, she is curious about her lineage and firm in her belief that girls are equal to, if not better than, boys. She questions everything, challenging every answer and demanding explanations. It drives me crazy. Yet I know her future depends on that curiosity, insistence and courage to demand why.

San José Spotlight columnist Jessica Paz-Cedillos is the co-executive director at the Mexican Heritage Plaza. Her columns appear every first Monday of the month. Contact Jessica at [email protected] or follow her on LinkedIn.