Leading, Legislating, and Mothering: A Conversation with Former Georgia State Representative Lauren Daniel

In honor of Mother's Day, Women's Public Leadership Network (WPLN) is excited to continue our Moms on the Trail series with WPLN fellow Valerie Hoyos and Lauren Daniel, former Georgia State Representative for District 117, to talk about what it really means to lead, legislate, and mother all at once.

In our conversation with Lauren, she opened up about running for office as a mom, the legislation she fought hardest to pass, and why she believes women who've raised children bring something irreplaceable to the table. See highlights below.

• Mothers Have a Unique, and Powerful, Perspective: Lauren is clear that motherhood didn't hold her back from public service. It shaped how she showed up for it. When you're raising kids, policy isn't theoretical — it's the school bus your child rides, the healthcare system that's supposed to protect you, the future your family is counting on. That lived experience, Lauren says, gives mothers a perspective that policy desperately needs more of.
• It Takes a Village: Running for office as a mom can be difficult, but Lauren took the opportunity head on. She's open about the fact that she couldn't have done it without a strong support system behind her. Her advice to women considering a run is to build your village before you need it, go in prepared for the challenges, and keep coming back to your reason for running. For Lauren, that reason was always her kids, and families across the state of Georgia.
• Turning Tragedy Into Change With Addy's Law: One of Lauren's most personal legislative wins came after an eight-year-old girl named Adalynn "Addy" Pierce was struck and killed by a driver who illegally passed her stopped school bus in Henry County. Addy's family turned their grief into advocacy, and Lauren answered the call. She authored what became known as Addy's Law, legislation that quadrupled fines for illegally passing a stopped school bus, required stop-arm cameras on buses, and encouraged school districts to redesign routes so children wouldn't have to cross high-speed roads. It passed the Georgia House 93 to 78 and the Senate 49 to 3, and was signed into law by Governor Kemp in April 2024.

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If Lauren's story resonates with you, remember that is exactly what public service needs. WPLN is here to help you take that next step. Explore free candidate training resources on our website and check out our upcoming events where you can connect with a national network of women leaders ready to support you.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Lauren Daniel served as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives for District 117, representing parts of the Atlanta Metro, West-Central Georgia, and Henry County. As the youngest female member of the Georgia House, Lauren championed legislation supporting families and mothers, including a bill to increase the child tax deduction, the creation of a Maternal and Infant Health Commission to combat high maternal and infant mortality rates, and Addy's Law, landmark legislation that increased fines and penalties for illegally passing a stopped school bus. Lauren has continued to advocate for child safety even after leaving office. Following her time in the House, Lauren continued her commitment to public service by running for Georgia State Senate District 18. A proud mom and legislator, Lauren has long believed that women don't have to choose between their careers and their families. Lauren and her husband Zakary, her high school sweetheart, are the parents of four young children and have been active in local politics together since 2013.