Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus is set to host a panel during the Democratic National Convention in collaboration with the Democratic Governors Association to highlight the female governors of the United States, as confirmed by her publicist to CNN.
Louis-Dreyfus, known for her role as the first fictional female vice president on HBO’s “Veep,” is a well-known Democratic supporter and advocate for women’s issues. The panel is scheduled to take place on August 21 during the DNC in Chicago and will feature the eight Democratic female governors of the country: Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, and Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek.
Expressing her enthusiasm for moderating the panel, Louis-Dreyfus stated, “Throughout their time in office, Democratic women governors have made history, changed the conversation surrounding women in executive roles, and gotten big things done for the good people of their states.” She added, “Their voices are essential. I’m looking forward to our conversation and the opportunity to shine the spotlight on these accomplished leaders.”
Louis-Dreyfus, who won six Emmy awards for her role as Selina Meyer on “Veep,” has experienced a resurgence in popularity as viewers draw parallels between the show and real-life politics. Fans have noticed similarities between the scripted show and the political journey of Vice President Kamala Harris, particularly after President Joe Biden endorsed her as the Democratic presidential candidate earlier this summer.
With many memes and videos circulating comparing “Veep” to Harris’ rise, the show’s creator Armando Iannucci felt the need to clarify that the show was fictional. In response to a comment summarizing Meyer’s political trajectory, Iannucci wrote, “Don’t forget we made all that up, though.”
This report includes contributions from CNN’s Lisa Respers France.