Tag: Center for American Women and Politics

Over time, because of her own accomplishments, she advanced: presidential candidate, secretary of state, the first woman to be nominated by a major party for the White House. Representative Debbie Dingell, Democrat of Michigan, who succeeded her husband in Congress in 2015, says she believes that she and Mrs. Clinton are emblematic of changing times for women in politics. “Some people would like to say she got it because she had the last name,” referring to her seat in Congress. The Center for American Women and Politics counts 47 widows elected or appointed to Congress in their husband’s place. That was so infuriating.” She had to dissociate herself from her father’s vote against civil rights legislation during her own campaign. Male leaders may have provided women with national exposure and political networks, but as Mrs. Clinton found, their conduct and record could also be liabilities. “You never know with Hillary Clinton, had she not met Bill Clinton, she might well have been a political woman in her own right and maybe life would have been simpler for her,” said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics. Because so many women are running in 2020, with their range of political experience, ideology and race, the coming election may be a truer test of gender attitudes. People are feeling threatened.” Terry Shumaker, who worked on both Clintons’ New Hampshire campaigns, said Mrs. Clinton’s popular vote victory was more of a landmark in shifting attitudes than is often recognized. She made it possible for people to envision a woman being president.”

And the results? For the first time in the history of these United States, the proportion of women in the House of Representatives jumped out of the teens (19 percent) to reach 23 percent; the U.S. Senate gained one percentage point to reach 24 percent. More: Mickey Mouse, Jeb Bush and Jesus: Write-in voters in Escambia, Santa Rosa make a statement The Florida Legislature will begin its 2019 session with 49 women — 37 in the House and 12 in the Senate — moving that needle from 26 percent to 31 percent. Out of 61 elected offices in Escambia County, including circuit judges who preside in Escambia, women will now hold 22, a gain of two offices as Ann Hill joins two other women on the Pensacola City Council and Lacey Powell Clark is installed in February as a new circuit judge. In Santa Rosa County, out of 64 elected offices women will now hold 17, a net gain of two offices. Gulf Breeze City Councilwoman Renee Bookout chose not to run for re-election, leaving the council with one woman in office. Though our local percentages look good in comparison with congressional and state numbers, we have some glass ceilings to break through. It’s been too long since women served on the county commission in the two counties and in the Florida House, and women have yet to make it to the U.S. House District 1 seat, Florida Senate and the office of Mayor of Pensacola. It was also a particularly interesting election cycle for the institute as our significant membership growth this year — we now have more than 100 members — included a number of men who ran for U.S. House, Florida House, Escambia County and Santa Rosa County commissions, Pensacola mayor (three) and Pensacola City Council. While our mission is laser-focused on the advancement of women into elected and appointed positions, an ancillary component of that mission is the fostering of collegiality and civility among all who enter into public service.