Share
WASHINGTON — The midterm elections brought a surge of female candidates to ballots across the country. Now, in a year that has been defined by the political awakening and activism of women, Election Day is testing whether those women will reach record-breaking numbers in Congress and in governor’s mansions across the country.
In the House, 237 women were on the ballot as major-party candidates. Women hold 84 out of 435 House seats, a record number. If more than 84 of those women candidates won on Tuesday, it would set a record for the number of women serving in the House.
Women also were on the ballot for governor in 16 states this year. There are six women governors, and the record is nine, which was reached in 2004 and 2007.
Diversity Among Women Candidates
“This isn’t just the year of the woman, this is the year of every woman,” said Cecile Richards, who served as the president of Planned Parenthood for more than a decade, noting the groundbreaking diversity among the women running for office this year.
Texas, for example, had a chance to send its first Hispanic woman to Congress. If Deb Haaland won her congressional race in New Mexico, she would become the first Native American woman elected to Congress. And if Democrat Kyrsten Sinema won in Arizona, she would become the country’s first openly bisexual senator.
“I’ve seen every year that we got another woman elected to the United States Senate, when each woman came in, every single woman in the United States Senate grew 5 inches taller,” said Richards. “We know more women will be going to Congress … and there will be sisters waiting for them who will lift them up.”
Women hold 23 of the 100 U.S. Senate seats, and this year 23 women are on the ballot for the chamber. Ten women already in the Senate are not up for re-election.
RELATED TOPICS:
Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients
8 hours ago
Boeing Secures $2.8 Billion US Satellite Contract
9 hours ago
Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County
9 hours ago
Over 100 Former Senior Officials Warn Against Planned Staff Cuts at US State Department
9 hours ago
Fresno Police Recover Some of the $40,000 in Fireworks Stolen From Bullard High Team
11 hours ago
Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers
11 hours ago
Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital
6 hours ago
Categories

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

Boeing Secures $2.8 Billion US Satellite Contract

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County
