INTERVIEW BY EVELYN SMYTH
Photograph provided by the Washingtonian
ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, REPRESENTATIVE IN THE DC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
On her identity: As an African American in a city with many African Americans you must be cognizant of the fact that there are many whites as well, so it is best in running in a place like the district to indicate what you think you can bring for your district. My own background in the Civil Rights Movement and as a feminist spoke for itself, so I didn’t believe I had to run on my identity as an African American or as a woman. That background was all apart of what people put together with other matters to decide whether or not to vote for me.
On owning confidence: It takes a certain amount of confidence in yourself to put yourself out there and say “vote for me.” It means you’re going to get the kind of scrutiny you’ve never received before. You have to be pretty sure of one’s self and understand that you don’t run against yourself, someone runs against you. Therefore you have got to be prepared to show not only that you are up for the job but that you are more up for the job than others who might want it.
Goal setting: Who encouraged me to run was Donna Brazile. She said if you run I will be your campaign manager and she’s a political operative that anyone would want to have. I have always had goals when I’ve wanted to do something, and I fulfilled that goal this year. And that is I was able to get Congress to pass a DC Statehood bill. I’ve been trying to get that ever since I came to Congress and actually got a vote on statehood my very first term. So goal setting is a part of the process of running for office.