I received an email stating that last week’s WISER Wednesday email was partisan. Then it asked if I would have written the same email if Winsome Earle-Sears had won the VA governor’s race. I responded, “Yes,” but my focus would have been on the fact that there has never been an Indigenous American woman governor. This exchange highlighted a fundamental aspect of WISER’s mission: our commitment to disaggregated data transcends party lines because systemic invisibility affects people regardless of their political affiliation.
The Power of Disaggregation
WISER believes inequality hides in the aggregate. When we examine broad categories like “women” or even “women of color,” we erase the distinct experiences of Asian, Black, Hispanic, Indigenous American, and Multiracial women. The Virginia governor’s race demonstrated the importance of disaggregated data. Winsome Earle-Sears lost to former U.S. representative and Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger in November 2025, becoming the first woman to lead the state. Had Earle-Sears won, she would have broken one barrier—the first Black woman governor of Virginia. However, the broader pattern would remain: 18 states have never had a female governor, and Indigenous American women remain completely absent from gubernatorial leadership.
This invisibility extends beyond individual achievements. If Kamala Harris and Tim Walz had won in 2024, Walz would have stepped down to serve as Vice President, making Peggy Flanagan the first Indigenous American woman to serve as governor in U.S. history. Instead, these historic firsts remain unrealized—the first female president and the first Indigenous American Woman as governor.
Our Mission in This Moment
WISER’s mission isn’t partisan—it’s crucial. Disaggregated data isn’t a political tool; it’s the foundation for policies that actually work. When both parties design programs based on accurate information about Asian, Black, Hispanic, Indigenous American, and Multiracial women, everyone benefits. Democracy works best when all voices are counted, not just aggregated into broad categories that mask rather than illuminate.
Whether you’re a Republican seeking to build broader coalitions or a Democrat working to understand shifting demographics, disaggregated data provides the foundation for evidence-based decision-making. The question isn’t whether you’re a Democrat or Republican—it’s whether you’re willing to see what the data reveals and craft solutions accordingly. WISER’s mission isn’t about advancing one political party over another; it’s about ensuring that policy research captures the full spectrum of American experiences so that Asian, Black, Hispanic, Indigenous American, and Multiracial women can be seen, heard, and effectively served by their government, regardless of which party holds power.
As we publish this, the House is voting to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history—a 43-day crisis that has been particularly disastrous for veterans and military families. We extend our deepest gratitude to the veterans who have served our nation. We stand in solidarity with federal workers, military families, and the more than 40 million Americans who depend on SNAP, who have endured delayed paychecks, disrupted or partial benefits, and uncertainty during this prolonged shutdown.
Rhonda V. Sharpe is the president and founder of the Women’s Institute for Science, Equity and Race. Her research focuses on gender and racial inequality, the diversity of STEM, and the demography of higher education.