Tatiana Matta, a Democrat candidate in California’s 23rd Congressional District, near Los Angeles, has won the primary election. She will be running against Republican incumbent Kevin McCarthy in November.
Why is this significant? There are numerous mid-term elections this year and they all play a role in determining how Congress will work together (or not) in the future. But this election is special for hard-working, dedicated military spouses. Because Tatiana Matta herself is a hard-working, dedicated military spouse.
“It is our country’s duty to care for our military veterans; as a military spouse, I will honor their service by driving legislation to bring resources to our district,” Matta said on her website.
Her stance on veterans and armed forces issues focuses on bringing “comprehensive resources to our men and women in uniform and after service.” She plans to do this by ensuring these programs do not experience budget cuts, increasing resources for mental health, sexual trauma, and homelessness, and improving leave and education benefits for military families.
The other issues that Matta discusses on her website include economic development and labor, healthcare, the environment, education, immigration, and strengthening communities.
Air Force Wife Seeks Congressional Seat https://t.co/M9p45USYRE #homefrontrising #milspouse #publicservice
— Homefront Rising (@theHFRising) May 15, 2018
What Does this Mean for Military Spouses?
Matta’s win in the primary election means big things in store for her and a shift in the role of military spouses.
Employment remains a challenge for the military spouse community. In a 2017 report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, unemployment and underemployment of military spouses were found to be at higher rates than the civilian sector.
“Deployments, frequent moves, and ever-changing family needs make it difficult to maintain or advance a career,” the report said.
A career in politics can be one of the most difficult to establish, let alone maintain. The same factors that make other forms of employment challenging—frequent moves, time with a deployed spouse, family needs—can be almost insurmountable for those wanting to enter the political arena.
But, military spouses are able to thrive in the face of these challenges. This is the exact reason that so many companies are recognizing the value that military spouses bring to their organizations. Companies like Amazon and Starbucks have special initiatives to hire military spouses and veterans. Now, voters are recognizing it, too.
Successful politicians need to represent their constituents at the state and national level to ensure that their voices are being heard in the legislative process. Matta believes that military spouses are able to accomplish this, as well.
The Military Spouse J.D. Network believes this as well. They host an annual Homefront Rising conference meant to “encourage and train military spouses to speak up and get involved in the political process through advocacy and public service.”
Many military spouses are familiar with advocating for the needs of military families with elected officials and others in positions of power and influence. Homefront Rising wants military spouses to be in those positions of influence: “Homefront Rising wants to help empower military spouses to take the skills learned from supporting the homefront to Capitol Hill, city hall, and state houses across this country.”
The annual seminar held in 2014 was hailed as “just the beginning” by attendees writing for NextGenMilSpouse. The training and empowerment that military spouses received transcended party affiliation and background.
“I came away from Homefront Rising absolutely convinced of one thing: military spouses have the best potential to bridge the ever-present civilian-military divide,” wrote the author, identified as a staff writer for the site.
Based on the success of Matta in the primaries, the movement that began at 2014’s seminar is making real progress in the actual political landscape. Military spouses, including Matta, are now being told that they can be more than just valuable employees; they can become world-class political leaders as well.
Meeting the Challenge of Employment as a Military Spouse
In an article published by Military Spouse Magazine, Matta was quoted saying “I am humbled that our country embraces military spouses as an integral part of the community.”
While often considered transient members of the community, military families bring a lot to each of their homes. Communities around the country are starting to notice. The dedication to service instilled in the military and exemplified by their family members as well is something that resonates with the American public. It did with California voters.
Many military spouses feel that their connection to the military makes them less employable. When asked what are the “two or three greatest challenges for spouses of military service members in finding good employment opportunities,” they identified a few issues.
41 percent of respondents, the highest percentage answer, agreed that “the company doesn’t want to hire a military spouse because they may move.” California voters did not let Matta’s role as a military spouse prevent them from considering her for office.
Matta continued to say “now, more than ever, our voices are needed in the halls of Congress to bring consensus and unity in times of uncertainty. Our experiences are valuable and we can create the change we want to see in our communities if we believe and work hard.”
This advice rings true for military spouses, whether they are seeking employment or elected office. “Military spouses have to get it done or we fail,” said Bonnie Amos, Marine Corps spouse and senior advisor at Hiring Our Heroes. “And we refuse to fail.”
This fall, we’ll see if Matta can beat incumbent Representative McCarthy in California. But we know right now that her win in the primary election is an important step forward for military spouses everywhere.
