Melinda French Gates Urges Women to Exercise Their Voting Rights

Melinda French Gates is encouraging women to make use of their voting rights by going to the polls in November and hinted at a forthcoming presidential endorsement.

“Women turned out in the midterm elections and said, ‘This is enough,'” French Gates told CBS Mornings in an interview scheduled to air on Tuesday. “And we’ve gotta do it again.”

When asked if she plans to endorse or campaign for a specific presidential candidate, French Gates replied, “More than likely, yes.”

The philanthropist revealed that she has previously supported both Republicans and Democrats, but stated that she cannot back the presumed GOP nominee due to his views on women’s reproductive choices and remarks about women that she finds offensive.

“I absolutely will not be voting for Trump, and I will be voting for Biden,” French Gates stated.

Last month, French Gates pledged to donate $1 billion over the next two years to individuals and organizations working towards the advancement of women and families worldwide.

“Decades of research on economics, well-being, and governance demonstrate that investing in women and girls benefits everyone,” she wrote in a guest article for The New York Times.

The former wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates also announced last month that she will step down as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and commit the $12.5 billion she will receive from Gates to future initiatives focused on women and families.

“After witnessing the rollback of women’s rights in the U.S. and globally over the past few years, she wants to dedicate this next phase to specifically changing that course,” said foundation CEO Mark Suzman in a statement to The Associated Press.