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When the resistance meets the polls: A historic week for women politicians

Editorial / Opinion Piece / Blog Post

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August 17, 2018

When the resistance meets the polls: A historic week for women politicians

Source: The New York Times

By Maya Salam,

Yes, that’s the sound of glass shattering ahead of the midterm elections. And female candidates are stomping through the wreckage.

It’s been an election year already dominated by a surge of women, and a record number of L.G.B.T. candidates. While the sheer number of women running is not a surefire path to change — many were running against each other in primaries or in tough districts — this week’s Democratic primary signaled that the zeal was translating into votes.

Ilhan Omar, a Democrat of Minnesota, is in position to become one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress, after beating her closest opponent by more than 20,000 votes. She joins another Muslim, Rashida Tlaib, of Michigan, who won her primary last week. Ms. Tlaib is running unopposed in a very blue district.

Jahana Hayes, a former national Teacher of the Year, moved closer to being Connecticut’s first black Democrat in Congress. And Christine Hallquist, a Democrat from Vermont, made history by becoming the first transgender candidate nominated for governorship by a major party.

 Click here to read the full article published by The New York Times on 16 August 2018.

 

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By Maya Salam,

Yes, that’s the sound of glass shattering ahead of the midterm elections. And female candidates are stomping through the wreckage.

It’s been an election year already dominated by a surge of women, and a record number of L.G.B.T. candidates. While the sheer number of women running is not a surefire path to change — many were running against each other in primaries or in tough districts — this week’s Democratic primary signaled that the zeal was translating into votes.

Ilhan Omar, a Democrat of Minnesota, is in position to become one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress, after beating her closest opponent by more than 20,000 votes. She joins another Muslim, Rashida Tlaib, of Michigan, who won her primary last week. Ms. Tlaib is running unopposed in a very blue district.

Jahana Hayes, a former national Teacher of the Year, moved closer to being Connecticut’s first black Democrat in Congress. And Christine Hallquist, a Democrat from Vermont, made history by becoming the first transgender candidate nominated for governorship by a major party.

 Click here to read the full article published by The New York Times on 16 August 2018.

 

Focus areas

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