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A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 20 august 2018

Women win primaries in record numbers, look to November

By CHRISTINA A. CASSIDY families in their ads as they
and LAURIE KELLMAN speak with authority on na-
Associated Press tional security and foreign
ATLANTA (AP) — Women policy.
are not just running for of- “The old model is a little
fice in record numbers this bit like trying to fit women
year — they are winning. into the mold of male can-
More women than ever didates,” said Deborah
before have won major Walsh, director of the Cen-
party primaries for gover- ter for American Women
nor, U.S. Senate and House and Politics at Rutgers Uni-
this year — setting a U.S. re- versity.
cord and paving the way “Women had a very narrow
for November battles that path that they could navi-
could significantly increase gate as candidates: What
the number of women in was appropriate to wear,
elected office and change what was appropriate to
the public debate on issues say. They also were asked:
such as health care, immi- If you win, who is going to
gration, abortion rights, ed- take care of your children?
ucation and gun control. This is not a question that
Some of these candidates men are confronted with.”
could also play a pivotal Beyond gender, these
role in whether Democrats In this May 22, 2018, file photo, Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams women are poised to usher
are able to take control of smiles before speaking to supporters during an election-night watch party in Atlanta. in a wave of diversity next
the U.S. House. Associated Press year.
Most of these female hope- with three or more can- who is running for gover- long-held Republican con- Michigan will likely send the
fuls are Democrats, some didates, according to an nor in Kansas and will need gressional districts or states nation’s first Muslim-Amer-
of whom are first-time can- analysis of election results. women, independents and where Republicans have ican woman to Congress,
didates who say their mo- Previously, the most women moderate Republicans in consolidated support. after Rashida Tlaib beat a
tivation to run sprang from who had advanced were her bid against Republican One thing women have crowded field of Demo-
President Donald Trump’s 167 in 2016, according to Kris Kobach. accomplished already is crats for the 13th Congres-
election and Republican records kept by the Center Success in November will changing the tone and sional District. No Republi-
control of Congress. But for American Women and go a long way to improving content of campaigns. can is running in November
other developments factor Politics at Rutgers University. the nation’s dismal record They bring their children to for the heavily Democratic
in, too. The #MeToo move- In the Senate, a record 19 of female representation. rallies and some want their seat.
ment. Women’s marches. women have won their Currently, women account campaign money to pay There are nearly 50 black
Trump’s nomination of con- primaries. And for the first for just a fifth of 535 U.S. rep- for child care so they can women running for Con-
servative appeals court time, 13 women have been resentatives and senators, run. gress this year, from Dem-
Judge Brett Kavanaugh to nominated for gubernato- and one in four state law- On this count, Liuba Grech- ocrat Lucy McBath who
replace retiring Supreme rial races in a single elec- makers. Six of the nation’s en Shirley, the Democratic is challenging GOP Rep.
Court Justice Anthony Ken- tion year. 50 governors are female. candidate challenger to Karen Handel in Georgia
nedy. And all these numbers are Meanwhile, women com- Republican Rep. Peter to Republican Rep. Mia
“Part of the reason I thought likely to grow with nine prise slightly more than half King, has succeeded. In Love’s bid for a third term
this race was possible, even states yet to hold their pri- the U.S. population. May, the Federal Election in Utah.
despite great odds, was maries. Rhode Island Gov. Women appear to be run- Commission voted unani- In Georgia, Stacey Abrams
because of all the women Gina Raimondo and U.S. ning strong so far. As of mid- mously to allow the expen- is aiming to become the
who are so engaged in my Rep. Gwen Graham of August, some 49 percent diture. nation’s first black female
community in a new way,” Florida are among nine of women running for the “I was told that with two kids, governor while Paulette
said Democrat Mikie Sher- women running for gover- House have advanced to a husband who worked full Jordan would be the first
rill, a former Navy helicop- nor who will face primary the general election, with time and no child care, Native American governor
ter pilot and federal prose- voters in coming weeks. about 40 percent in the that it was impossible,” Gre- in U.S. history if she wins her
cutor who looks to capture No more than nine women Senate and about 25 per- chen Shirley says in an on- race in Idaho.
a GOP congressional seat have ever led states at the cent running for governor, line ad, noting her effort to And Democratic voters in
in New Jersey. same time. according to an analysis of change the policy. “Well, Vermont recently selected
Sherrill is one of some 200 “We are seeing a level of election results. it wasn’t impossible. It’s just Christine Hallquist as their
women who have won their enthusiasm among wom- But that’s no guarantee really hard.” nominee, making her the
primaries for U.S. House, en voters that we haven’t of victory this fall. Many of Experienced combat vet- first transgender candidate
with 94 of these candidates seen in a long time,” said the women, particularly erans running for Congress to win a major-party guber-
surviving crowded fields Democrat Laura Kelly, Democrats, are running in this year are featuring their natorial nomination.q