Video game developer Brianna Wu plans to run for US Congress

21 Dec 2016

Brianna Wu plans to run for US Congress. Image: Shannon Grant

Brianna Wu, the video game developer who battled sexism and death threats during the Gamergate controversy, is planning to run for Congress in 2018.

Wu, the head of development at Giant Spacekat, bore the brunt of death threats and other acts of violence for speaking out against sexism in the video games industry.

Wu spoke movingly about her ordeal at Inspirefest in 2015 where she was met with a standing ovation for her dignity, poise and defiance.

‘Now it’s time for women of my generation to pick up that baton and commit to public service’
– BRIANNA WU

According to reports, Wu has decided to run for the US House of Representatives as a Democrat.

A new generation stands up

In a tweet, Wu said: “Bernie Sanders said 1,000 times that he could not do it alone – he needed people to run for office and stand with him. Bernie, I will. And I am.”

While Wu hasn’t officially announced her intention to run for Congress, she has made it clear on Twitter that she intends to and posted the photo below on Facebook.

Video game developer Brianna Wu plans to run for US Congress

Image: Brianna Wu/Facebook

In an interview with VentureBeat, Wu said that she is ready for a bolder Democratic Party in the US.

“I will be adding legal experts on cyberbullying and revenge porn to my advising team soon,” she said.

“The reason I decided to run is simple: Trump is, terrifyingly, now in the White House. I can’t sit by making pleasant video game distractions for the next four years while the constitution is under assault. Hillary ran a brave marathon, and now it’s time for women of my generation to pick up that baton and commit to public service.”

Inspirefest is Silicon Republic’s international event connecting sci-tech professionals passionate about the future of STEM. Book now to get your Early Bird tickets.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com