Refinery29 has a great piece out today emphasizing why it’s important for Democrats to win the U.S. Senate along with winning the White House. Author Sophie Hayssen makes the case that there are eight seats that not only could be flipped but also increase the number of women in Congress:
By winning the Senate, Democrats could unclog the backup of crucial unpassed laws, decide the fate of the president’s agenda, and make sure
far-right judges don't make it to the Supreme Court. But the path to victory is not going to be easy. Unlike in the House, not every seat in the Senate is up for reelection every two years, making it harder for Democrats to win control. In 2020, however, Republicans are particularly vulnerable,
with 23 of their Senate seats up for reelection compared to just 12 for Democrats. To gain a majority, Democrats need to defend all their seats, plus gain at least three if they win the White House, and four if they don’t. Fortunately for Democrats,
Inside Elections rated only 10 of the seats up for reelection “Solidly Republican,” indicating significant vulnerabilities for Democrats to exploit.
Especially as the presidential race has narrowed to a contest between older, white men, Senate races offer an exciting opportunity for new voices to emerge. In this latest cycle, an impressive group of women candidates have taken up the mantle of flipping the Senate, facing off against Republicans in historically red or competitive states. For anyone still
mourning Elizabeth Warren’s campaign, these women offer a glimpse into a potentially bright future for women in politics. "The formidable women candidates in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary were senators," Erin Vilardi, founder of the nonprofit VoteRunLead, told Refinery29. "More women senators may well translate to more national female leadership and future presidential candidates."
The success of women candidates in these elections is essential both for protecting women's rights and for adding much-needed diversity to the Senate. Only
56 women have ever served in the Senate, and currently women
make up only a quarter of the Senate, despite being
over half of the U.S. population. “In 2020, we have the opportunity to set another record for women's representation in our government,” added Vilardi. “That's something to be excited about.”
The article contains a slideshow and bio on each of the candidates mentioned. Give it a read and then please do consider donating and getting involved with these Democrats campaigns:
Amy McGrath (D. KY)
MJ Hegar (D. TX)
Paulette Jordan (D. ID)
Teresa Tomlinson (D. GA)
Barbara Bollier (D. KS)
Theresa Greenfield (D. IA)
Sara Gideon (D. ME)
Sen. Tina Smith (D. MN) (Incumbent)