Inspired by Hillary Clinton’s presidential candidacy, and still stunned by Donald Trump’s victory, increasing numbers of Democratic women are diving into Massachusetts politics.
“The national political environment we’re in, that’s the backdrop to every political discussion,” said Lexington resident Mary Ann Stewart, a freshly declared candidate in the upcoming special election to fill the 4th Middlesex seat in the state Senate. “I think it was a huge wake-up call to people.“
Emerge Massachusetts, an organization dedicated to recruiting and training Democratic women to run for political office, reports a surge in interest this year. Last year, 57 women applied to Emerge Massachusetts. This year, more than 200 women indicated interest and 115 applied, according to Ryanne Olsen, the group’s executive director.
To accommodate the increased interest, Emerge Massachusetts has doubled its training program to include 48 women.
Women have historically been underrepresented in politics, both in Massachusetts and nationally. Women make up 26 percent of the Massachusetts Legislature, a level that has held fairly steady since the late 1990s. In U.S. Congress, less than 20 percent of lawmakers are women, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.
Massachusetts has only had one female governor, Jane Swift, who was elevated from lieutenant governor in 2001 when then-Gov. Paul Cellucci was appointed U.S. ambassador to Canada.
Click here to read the full article by The Metro West Daily News on 7 May 2017.
Inspired by Hillary Clinton’s presidential candidacy, and still stunned by Donald Trump’s victory, increasing numbers of Democratic women are diving into Massachusetts politics.
“The national political environment we’re in, that’s the backdrop to every political discussion,” said Lexington resident Mary Ann Stewart, a freshly declared candidate in the upcoming special election to fill the 4th Middlesex seat in the state Senate. “I think it was a huge wake-up call to people.“
Emerge Massachusetts, an organization dedicated to recruiting and training Democratic women to run for political office, reports a surge in interest this year. Last year, 57 women applied to Emerge Massachusetts. This year, more than 200 women indicated interest and 115 applied, according to Ryanne Olsen, the group’s executive director.
To accommodate the increased interest, Emerge Massachusetts has doubled its training program to include 48 women.
Women have historically been underrepresented in politics, both in Massachusetts and nationally. Women make up 26 percent of the Massachusetts Legislature, a level that has held fairly steady since the late 1990s. In U.S. Congress, less than 20 percent of lawmakers are women, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.
Massachusetts has only had one female governor, Jane Swift, who was elevated from lieutenant governor in 2001 when then-Gov. Paul Cellucci was appointed U.S. ambassador to Canada.
Click here to read the full article by The Metro West Daily News on 7 May 2017.