Looming ‘Year of the Woman’ could tilt area Congressional races
The effects in
The wave of 1992 was credited largely to
Many also feel under attack by policies of the Trump administration.
"That anger and concern has created a level of involvement and activism we've never seen before,"
The
Nine of those women, eight of them
Experts differ over how much of a gender advantage a female candidate will have over a male counterpart. But most agree that beneath the surge of women candidates is a deepgroundswell of grassroots activism -- seen in the January's nationwide Women's March and in the heavily female Indivisible movement -- that could impact the election regardless of the gender of the candidates.
"If it's going to be a wave of change, it's not just going to be because of the candidates," said
If that benefits Democratic women candidates, they aren't complaining.
"We're banding together and working together," said technology executive
Gender advantage?
Architect and businesswoman
When Trump prevailed, Oatman -- like many others -- decided to travel to
"It was a sea of pink swarming on
Besides Trump comments that many find misogynistic, Oatman said motivating issues for women included the prospect of
But in terms of women's decisions at the polls, Han said party affiliation is a bigger factor than candidategender. While Clinton won 54 percent of the female electorate last year,
Thomsen pointed to additional research that shows gender is not a big factor in determining a winner, but says that a lone women in a large field of men could help distinguish that candidate.
In the races of Reps.
Meanwhile, many Democratic organizers are more concerned with the gender of the voters next year than of the candidates, as women are more likely than men to identify with
That means a large turnout by women could be a deciding factor.
The number of women in
A core reason for
On the
"We're not seeing that from our side," she said.
Nonetheless, Walters' gender could help neutralize the pro-woman Trump backlash in her own race, according to some political scientists. Walters campaign consultant
"I think more voters, especially independents, who might not consider a male (Republican) will be open to considering her," Gilliard.
Another neutralizing factor in the election could be targeted
Even Rohrabacher, who has defended some of Trump's more controversial statements in the past, joined Issa to become one of two
Potential pitfalls
If candidate gender is reason a Democratic woman candidate advances to the general election in a targeted
Voters motivated by a female candidate's gender will largely already be backing the candidate in the primary, leaving few new gender-based voters to attract in November. If a stronger overall Democratic candidate who was male was edged out by a women in the primary because of gender-based voters, that could prove good news for the Republican incumbent.
Carole Uhlaner, who specializes in gender politics at UC Irvine, also warns that a lot can change in the 10 months left before the general elections -- new issues can emerge and existing ones can transform. That's particularly true with the #metoo movement, she said.
"I'm concerned that it has gone overboard in terms of not allowing due process -- in terms of boorishness being mistaken for sexual assault," Uhlaner said, noting that men are being pushed to resign from their jobs without a legal determination of guilt.
"It could come back to haunt
On the other hand,
Those results have not only buoyed
"Certainly, there is reason for concern there," Gilliard said. "
Han, meanwhile, said she'd like to see 2018 be the Year of the Woman for both parties.
"We need more qualified women in office," she said.
"We need more qualified men in office, too."
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