Will toxic politics stem the surge in women candidates?
Source: Real Clear Politics
When Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 presidential election, it sparked a surge of female candidates. According to Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics, nearly 500 women initially filed to run for the U.S. House of Representatives, 54 filed for the Senate, and 77 for governor – a record number of women running for office. While some are clearly running against President Trump, others saw Clinton’s loss as a rallying cry that women still have a long way to go to reach parity in politics. But is this year’s uptick in women running for office the start of a long-term trend, or a one-time reaction? Will the increasingly poisonous political atmosphere that is causing too many voters to tune out, ultimately dissuade more women from entering the political field in the future?
We often talk about the impact women will have on our political systems – their potential to get more accomplished, tackle issues men may avoid, and simply bring fresh perspectives to our governing bodies. But we don’t often consider how our political system – and today’s political climate, in particular – may impact the supply of female candidates.
Click here to read the full article published by Real Clear Politics on 30 August 2018.
When Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 presidential election, it sparked a surge of female candidates. According to Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics, nearly 500 women initially filed to run for the U.S. House of Representatives, 54 filed for the Senate, and 77 for governor – a record number of women running for office. While some are clearly running against President Trump, others saw Clinton’s loss as a rallying cry that women still have a long way to go to reach parity in politics. But is this year’s uptick in women running for office the start of a long-term trend, or a one-time reaction? Will the increasingly poisonous political atmosphere that is causing too many voters to tune out, ultimately dissuade more women from entering the political field in the future?
We often talk about the impact women will have on our political systems – their potential to get more accomplished, tackle issues men may avoid, and simply bring fresh perspectives to our governing bodies. But we don’t often consider how our political system – and today’s political climate, in particular – may impact the supply of female candidates.
Click here to read the full article published by Real Clear Politics on 30 August 2018.
