From collection Candidates
Mary Ella Ridle was a Democratic party candidate for fifty-third district of California for the State Assembly in 1912. She was the first woman in the state to run for the Assembly, and her campaign began the year after California women gained full suffrage rights. Ridle lost the race, but did get just about thirty per cent of the votes. During her pioneering race Ridle noted "It is the usual fate of innovations of any kind. However,someone has to make a start. In accepting this candidacy I feel that I am filling that want."
