Top image: Rachel and Sen. Todd Young
Opening remarks of the 2026 State of the Majority Summit, June 3, 2026, edited for print.
I decided shortly after founding Engage in 2018, while watching the State of the Union address, that women, who outnumber, outvote, and outlive men, deserve their own annual check-in, one that offers an honest reckoning of our current state. This year’s Summit is the fifth such Engage convening.
The phrase women outnumber, outvote, and outlive men™ is in no way intended to devalue men. In fact, at Engage we are religiously careful in referring to American women and their families. After all, the women in this room are mothers to sons, wives to husbands, aunts to nephews, sisters to brothers, and daughters to fathers. This truism is intended, however, to “flex our power” economically, politically, and in sheer survival.
“What surprised me most about the day was how much it affected me personally. For the first time in a long while, I felt as though I had a seat at the table.”
— Liz Derrick, Lustre Member and Summit Attendee
By every metric, when women prosper economically, our families, communities, and country have a far better chance of flourishing. When women and their families cannot afford or find childcare, when entrepreneurial women do not have equal opportunities at funding and support in building their businesses, when women do not get needed health care, when our disability community does not receive a fair wage, when women retire in poverty, and when women are emotionally, financially, and physically suffering because of caring for loved ones, it is time to take action and demand responsible solutions.
Engage is rooted in the belief that politics is not governing. We are interested in governing. The demarcation between these two forces is not absolute. They push and pull against each other, and there can be no doubt that at times throughout our history, inspired political leadership and rhetoric have motivated us to a more equitable and honorable nation. But there can be little doubt that in 2026 we are drowning in coarse political speech and campaigns full of nasty red versus blue punditry. Engage is committed to a different conversation, and we are excited for you to experience it today.
The last year has been a busy and productive one for Engage. I believe we have found our footing and understand how best to deploy our resources and energy, whether through direct Capitol Hill engagement, commissioned polling that moves the needle strategically with Members of Congress, staff briefings, convenings, or our media offerings, the Engage Reader, and the Thread newsletter. On the horizon, and currently in development, are a YouTube show and the Engage Small Business Network newsletter. This fall, Engage hits the road with our partners AARP and ACLI, and the fabulous Jean Chatzky, for stops in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Engage Awards close the year on December 1 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. These awards celebrate corporate stewardship and bipartisanship, because no matter who wins in November, the only path forward, if we are to prosper, is through working together.
None of this work, today, tomorrow or the next day, would be possible without our sponsors.
In two polls Engage commissioned this year, these numbers stand out. When we asked whether people want more stories about bipartisanship, 82% said yes. When we asked whether they want Congress and President Trump to work together, 81% supported the idea, and 58% said it is very important they do so. These numbers are not unique to Engage’s polling. They match other polling about bipartisanship generally. In our hearts and minds, we all know these numbers are correct, and it is time that women, who I believe can be the steadying force, demand that Congress do its job.
Please don’t misunderstand. Of all the forces I hold responsible for our current state of dysfunction, individual Members of Congress are not alone at the top of that list. They are responding to what they believe we want. If we want something different, we must engage with them and drive a movement that affirms we understand compromise is necessary. After all, compromise is what we do in our daily lives, over and over again.
I cannot help but mention one more set of numbers. In the recent Texas primary run-off held May 26th, 76% of registered voters did not vote. Only 11% of registered Republicans voted, with 12% of Democrats voting. 76% of registered Texas voters did not vote.
Whatever outcomes you rooted for in the recent primary, these numbers certainly do not reflect a resounding victory. So, we must ask ourselves, what message are we sending to lawmakers regarding our legislative priorities and desired style of governing when turnout is staggeringly low?
In my note at your seat, I referenced recently hearing the historian Jon Meacham, and I want to share some wisdom that certainly steadied me. Meacham said the American people have not yet lost faith “in the broad experiment.” He went on to suggest that we have chosen to be polarized and we can choose not to be hysterical, and to remember that awareness is the key to salvation.
I deeply love this country. I love all of you for coming today, and I hope you will join with Engage in our work building greater prosperity for American women and steadying the nation.
You can reach Rachel Pearson at rachel@engagewomen.org
