Hillary Clinton writes condolence letter to third-grade girl who lost class president election to boy

Hillary Clinton wrote a letter to an 8-year-old Maryland girl to console her for losing a class president election to a boy by just one vote, the Washington Post reported.

What advice was offered?

"As I know too well, it's not easy when you stand up and put yourself in contention for a role that's only been sought by boys," Clinton wrote.

Clinton became the first woman to be nominated as a presidential candidate but lost to Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential race.

The girl who received Clinton's letter is Martha Kennedy Morales, a third-grader at a private Quaker school in College Park, Maryland, according to the news outlet. The third-grader campaigned to become class president during a unit on the U.S. government for a combined third- and fourth-grade class.

The Washington Post obtained a copy of Clinton's letter that read, in part:

While I know you may have been disappointed that you did not win President, I am so proud of you for deciding to run in the first place. As I know too well, it's not easy when you stand up and put yourself in contention for a role that's only been sought by boys. The most important thing is that you fought for what you believed in, and that is always worth it. As you continue to learn and grow in the years ahead, never stop standing up for what is right and seeking opportunities to be a leader, and know that I am cheering you on for a future of great success.
With best wishes and warm regards, I am.

Sincerely yours,
Hillary Rodham Clinton

Six ballots in the classroom election were declared invalid because they were not correctly filled out. In the end, Martha lost by a single vote. She was named vice president instead.

"Now I get to be the tiebreaker if the House and Senate can't agree," Martha wrote in a statement about what she would do in the U.S. government as vice president. "And I have meetings with the president. That's all that I know that I do."

Martha's dad, Albert Morales, said his daughter was serious about winning. He regularly posted Martha's campaign updates on his Facebook page, where he also revealed the disappointing results.

Any other reactions?

Brian Weaver, a Democratic political activist, said some of Albert Morales's friends were following the Facebook posts and were upset when she lost.

"A friend of mine who runs a bar on U Street welled up with tears," he told the newspaper.

That's when "someone who knows Clinton" took note of the posts and decided to mention it to her, according to the report.

After Clinton heard what happened she decided to write the girl a letter.

"My mom was just picking me up from school, and she pulled the letter out of her purse," Martha said. "I opened it up, and it was a letter from Hillary Clinton. I was very surprised."

Albert Morales told the news outlet: "My wife texted me a copy and said Martha was just very happy and excited and surprised that Hillary would take the time to write to her."

Martha, who turns 9 next week, is crafting a thank-you note for Clinton.

The Washington Post stated that it verified with a Clinton spokesperson that the letter was authentic.