USA Today: Democrats’ new superpower: Single parents like me are a growing political force

Joe Biden was a single father for several years. Kamala Harris was raised in part by a single mother. They know the value of my loving family type.

These roles and role models have shaped this Democratic team as empathetic leaders. It is a less discussed but important character strength because they understand the needs of a growing family type in America who can influence the presidential vote. A voter profile compiled by the Voter Participation Center in 2019 found that a majority of voting-eligible women were unmarried in 2018. And millennials will make up 21% of the voting-eligible population in 2020.

In the deepest quarantine days, many of us who rely on child care facilities, babysitters, friends, neighbors and activities grew more anxious because we lost our vital agreements outside of our households.

During the pandemic, many single parents, myself included, have been hit the hardest by a decrease in income, the social isolation of stay-at-home orders, and the stress of juggling work and virtual school. In the deepest quarantine days, many of us who rely on child care facilities, babysitters, friends, neighbors and activities grew more anxious because we lost our vital agreements outside of our households. These are the constellations that usually make us feel supported and part of a larger community.

I have always tried to put on a brave face and emphasized the strength I’ve gained from parenting on my own. But without my usual supports and connections, the losses and obstacles started to feel taller and more painful. The hit was felt even harder for the lowest wage single moms who work in service jobs.

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Originally published at Rachel Lehmann-Haupt.