Is American Ferrera Planning On Running For Office?

America Ferrera is not one to stay silent surrounding today’s political climate. Choosing to use her platform during the 2008 presidential primary, the actress and activist campaigned for Hillary Clinton and championed more people of color to come out to vote. So, it should come as no surprise that Ferrera is eyeing the White House.  

As she sat on a panel on Wednesday with Time’s Up president and CEO Lisa Borders and journalist and author Katie Couric at the Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit, Ferrera was asked by Couric if she has considered running for office.

“My answer has always been no, but to be honest, if every single one of us hasn’t asked ourselves that question in the last two years, you’re not asking yourself the right question,” said Ferrera. “Women in particular are afraid to say they could run for office because women who have sought power have not been treated well. If I say I’m going to run, it’s going to make me seem like a power-hungry shrew. So I’ll say for the first time in a public setting that yes, I have thought about it, and you should, too.”

The star of Real Women Have Curves and Ugly Betty believes that change begins with women. “We have to be willing, as women, to give ourselves the permission to be angry enough to say what the problem is,” Ferrera said. “That comes first. I have seen an awakening.”

The author of American Like Me helped launch Time’s Up alongside Eva Longoria, Shonda Rhimes, Ava DuVernay and Meryl Streep, among others. The coalition is working to fight workplace sexual harassment, assault and abuse.  

Will Ferrera announce her bid for president in 2020? With her recent remarks, we’re hopeful she’ll join the likes of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in shaking up the political arena.