Women break records in US mid-term elections
Washington: More women candidates than ever will contest US governorships and House seats in November’s mid-term elections. After Tuesday’s primaries across four states, there are now 11 female nominees for governor and at least 185 for the House of Representatives. The results were hailed as a continuing success story by activists for women in politics. There was also a key election for a House seat in Ohio, in which President Donald Trump claimed victory. But US media said the race was still too close to call, in a safe Republican seat held by them since 1983. The outcome could indicate whether Democrats have a chance to overturn the Republican majority in the House in November.
A breakthrough for women
After polling closed in the four states holding primaries on Tuesday - Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Washington - it became clear women had broken records for gubernatorial and House nominations. Victories for Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan) and Laura Kelly (Kansas) in Democratic primaries mean 11 women will contest governorships in November - one more than the previous 1994 record.
At least 182 female major party nominees will run for the House, beating the record of 167 from 2016. Another three women are leading in close primary contests.
Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) said: “This has been an election season of records for women candidates, and tonight continues that story.” Ms Whitmer will in fact lead a four-strong, all-women ticket for the Democrats at state level in Michigan.
In Kansas, 38-year-old Sharice Davids - a gay ex-mixed martial arts fighter - won her primary and could become the first Native-American woman elected to Congress. Ms Davids, a member of the HoChunk Nation, was raised by a single mother who worked as a drill sergeant in the US Army. Her campaign ran adverts showing her hitting a punching bag. Another Native-American woman, Democrat Deb Haaland of New Mexico, became a congressional nominee in June. And one of the candidates for the House in the state is all but certain to become the first Muslim woman in Congress. Rashida Tlaib won a Democratic nomination and will not be opposed by the Republicans in November. She will also be the first Palestinian-American congresswoman.
There will be two all-female races in Washington state. Democrat Lisa Brown faces Cathy McMorris Rodgers for a House seat, while Republican Susan Hutchison will take on incumbent Senator Maria Cantwell.
Democratic women could outnumber their white male colleagues in the House after November, a recent study suggested.