The Hashtag
#ImWithHer was Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign rallying cry, emphasizing the historic nature of her candidacy as the first woman major-party presidential nominee.
Origins
Clinton’s campaign launched “I’m With Her” in April 2016 after she secured enough delegates to clinch the Democratic nomination. The slogan emphasized her gender and experience, positioning her as the barrier-breaking candidate.
The campaign also used “Stronger Together” and released merchandise featuring “A woman’s place is in the White House” and “Madam President” branding.
Cultural Impact
The hashtag represented:
- The possibility of the first female president
- Gender as a central campaign theme
- Enthusiasm among women voters (especially older women who’d waited their whole lives)
- Clinton’s historic achievement as first woman major-party nominee
Post-election criticisms:
- The slogan made it about her, not voters (“I’m with her” vs. “She’s with me”)
- Contrast with Obama’s “Yes We Can” or Trump’s “Make America Great Again”
- Alienated working-class voters who felt overlooked
- Gender messaging didn’t overcome trust and likability issues
The glass ceiling remained unshattered when Trump won. Clinton’s concession speech acknowledged the pain: “To all the little girls watching… never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world.”
By 2020, Biden avoided similar pitfalls with less personality-driven slogans. Kamala Harris broke the barrier as VP, but the presidency remained unattained for women.