The record number of women running for office this year will be winnowed down somewhat as we move through state primaries—but women aren't disappearing from the scene by a long shot:
Early signs of a potential wave of female candidate were on display in Texas, where primary season kicked off Tuesday. More than half of the 50 women competing for House seats in the Lone Star State won their primary or will advance to a runoff in May. And Texas is on track to elect its first two Latinas to the House after two women — Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia — won their primaries in solidly Democratic districts.
At least 494 women, both Republicans and Democrats, have said they’re running for Congress this year, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. That’s up from 312 women who filed to run for House or Senate in 2016. And after the Texas primary results, 470 potential female candidates are still vying for House and Senate seats.
The disparity between women in office as Republicans and Democrats is only likely to grow:
Of the 494 women who have said they’re running for the House and Senate this year, 76 percent are Democratic candidates.
“It’s obviously in response to the 2016 election of Donald Trump. That has activated and energized a lot of women particularly on the Democratic side,” said Christine Matthews, a longtime GOP consultant and researcher. “What it has done on the Republican side, if it’s done anything, it has dampened enthusiasm. It’s a tough time to be a Republican woman right now, let’s be honest.”
There may just be a reason for that, you know. But it’s one more reason to say let’s elect women—or one more reason to say let’s elect Democrats. Because both are good, and doing one is likely to lead to more of the other.
Take back the House! Can you give $1 to the Democratic nominee fund in each Daily Kos-targeted district?