—Follow Three Women Taking On Entrenched Political Systems In Middle America—
Local elections, especially those in smaller cities in Middle America, often go overlooked by national media, even though the dynamics at play can mirror — and sometimes predict — the ebb and flow of America’s large-scale political landscape.
"Represent," directed by Hillary Bachelder, follows three women running for office in the heart of the Midwest leading up to the 2018 midterm elections, as they take on entrenched local political networks and fight to reshape politics on their own terms.
Twenty-two-year-old activist Myya Jones is a former Congressional intern and college senior when she announces her candidacy for mayor of Detroit in 2017. Despite impossibly long odds, the word gets out and her campaign team — primarily young, black women inspired by Myya’s efforts — continues to grow.
Meanwhile, in rural Granville, Ohio, 33-year-old Bryn Bird files paperwork to run for Township Trustee. Bryn, a farmer and working mother, grew up as a Democrat in the conservative Midwest countryside.
With a nudge from a local women-led group established in response to the 2016 election, Bryn takes the plunge into the political arena, thrusting her into the center of a fight against the conservative “old boys’ network” that has long controlled their quiet town.
In a Chicago suburb, 47-year-old Korean American Julie Cho runs for State Representative. As a conservative Republican, she faces unlikely odds against a popular incumbent Democrat. As the national rhetoric intensifies and the midterm elections near, Julie leans into her shared identities — woman of color, conservative, immigrant.
"Represent" depicts the varying degrees of microaggressions faced by women candidates who run for office, and ultimately shows how much these contenders have in common, despite their differing alignment on the political spectrum. The film examines the systems that have failed historically underrepresented candidates, and shows where improvement is needed.
“I was deeply inspired by the perseverance and resilience that Myya, Bryn, and Julie showed in their campaigns, and particularly by their courage in challenging deep-rooted political systems as they sought to improve their communities,” said Bachelder. “I hope that the public broadcast of 'Represent' likewise inspires audiences all over the country to pay attention to local politics, particularly in such an important election year, and make their voices and their votes count however they can.”
Watch On Your Schedule:
With the PBS Video App, you can stream your favorite and local station shows. Download it for free on your favorite device. The app allows you to catch up on recent episodes and discover award-winning shows.
This episode will be available simultaneously with the broadcast on the INDEPENDENT LENS website, PBS.org and the KPBS Video Player for a limited time.
Extend your viewing window with KPBS Passport, video streaming for members supporting KPBS at $60 or more yearly using your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire or Chromecast. Learn how to activate your benefit now.
Join The Conversation:
INDEPENDENT LENS is on Facebook, Instagram, and you can follow @IndependentLens on Twitter. #IndieLensPBS
Credits:
Director: Hillary Bachelder. Producers: Rachel Pikelny and Anne Sobel. Executive Producers: Jolene Pinder, Betsy Steinberg, Gordon Quinn, Sally Jo Fifer and Lois Vossen. Editors: Hillary Bachelder, Amber Love and Sikay Tang. Cinematography: Hillary Bachelder.
