Women and Politics

Have you ever wondered why women’s political progress has stagnated? Why in the year 2010 we only have 17 women serving in the U.S. Senate?

While there are many factors behind the continuing gender gap, yesterday’s primary elections reveal one of the biggest problems: Our current political structure repeatedly prevents women candidates from succeeding.

Already this year, we have seen too many talented female candidates be ignored, cast off, and even attacked by their own party. (Read: Dede Scozzafava, Colleen Hanabusa). But WCF’s endorsed candidates forge ahead anyway—determined to overcome the odds stacked against them by the political establishment.

Secretary Jennifer Brunner’s run for U.S. Senate provides a classic example of the political system failing a strong woman.

We watched as she boldly defied the establishment—who told her to drop out, give up, and bow down. Brunner ran a tenacious grassroots campaign across Ohio and earned 44% of the vote last night.

She fought the full weight of the Democratic establishment and showed that courage and conviction can be a formidable opponent to money and influence. However, she will be sorely missed in the U.S. Senate, and Ohio still hasn’t seen its first female Senator.

Much like Brunner, U.S. Senate candidate from North Carolina, Secretary Elaine Marshall, was outspent and underestimated in her primary. However, I’m proud to say that Marshall was the top vote-getter yesterday,  garnering 38% of the vote. This tough candidate is ready to tackle the runoff election in June—and WCF will be behind her every step of the way.

We will also firmly stand with our candidates who won their primaries last night, and will continue onto the November elections:

Patsy Keever, North Carolina House of Representatives, District 115
Rep. Marcia Fudge, U.S. House of Representatives, District 11
Rep. Betty Sutton, U.S. Representatives, District 13

Also continuing to the general elections, running unopposed yesterday, are:

Commissioner Paula Brooks, U.S. House of Representatives, District 12
Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, U.S. House of Representatives, District 15

We are saddened to report losses for the following candidates, and we encourage them to run again at the earliest possible opportunity. We all need these women in government:

Tamela Lee, Ohio State Senate, District 27
Rosemary Palmer, Ohio State House of Representatives, District 16

In addition to all these great WCF candidates, Jennifer Brunner and Elaine Marshall especially provide shining examples of why WCF exists—to support women who make the decision to run for office—despite the odds, and even when the system gets in their way.

WCF is here to help clear the path, chop through the weeds, and guide talented women through their candidacy—women who exceed expectations at every turn, forge their own path through the political wilderness, and light the way for those who follow.

To ensure the elimination of our political gender gap, WCF continues to use a different political paradigm for women candidates—one that rewards leadership and courage, and does not bow to the conventional model that stagnates women’s political progress. A league of our own, you could say.

I hope anyone who believes in the need for women’s political equality will stand together in 2010 and beyond to build a new political system that works for women—not against them.

With all the bank and Wall Street bailouts, it’s getting tough to believe that the people of America are being prioritized.

But Patsy Keever, a 25-year educator, and a three-term County Commissioner in Buncombe County, North Carolina, is pledging to “put people first” in her race for State House in District 115. For Keever, that means supporting public education, ensuring access to affordable healthcare, and bringing sustainable, green development to her slice of Western North Carolina. Keever is focusing on her constituents, and the people are responding:

“Successful teachers usually make successful legislators, because that experience can make the dollars go further,” Robert E. “Buzz” Lee said. “Patsy Keever has other qualifications that add to her luster. She exemplifies the concept of servant-leadership that helps you enlist the support of parents and other teachers in building a vibrant community.”

“Years of first-hand observation have convinced me that Patsy shines forth as a genuinely decent person,” George Williams said. “She seeks out responsibility; her approach invariably hews to the moral choice, with no calculation of easy success or her own self-aggrandizement. Her personal example attests to her sterling character.”

“As a woman of spiritual values and character, Patsy stands for equality for all our citizens, and has spent her life working for equality and justice within our county,” Marlisa Mills said.

To learn more about Keever and her campaign to put people first and become the first woman to represent the 115th district in Raleigh, visit her website.

Keever faces the incumbent in the Democratic primary in North Carolina today, May 4th.

This post was submitted by Jean Qiao, WCF communications fellow

Time to gear up, folks! I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s “full speed ahead” starting next Tuesday until the general elections on November 2nd.

This year we have a great opportunity to elect a lot more women. With women holding only 17% of seats in Congress, 24% of state legislature seats, and 12% of Governor seats,  something must change. If these stats don’t do anything for you, how about this:

To close these giant gender gaps in public office, we need to elect: 144 more women to the House, 33 more in the Senate, 19 more female governors, and double the number of women in state legislatures.

Yes, it’s quite a daunting task—especially when women aren’t running at the rate of men. But luckily, we already have a large number of great female candidates running, with more popping up every day.

To start things off, both Ohio and North Carolina have their primary elections a week from tomorrow on Tuesday, May 4. Here are nine fantastic female candidates to keep your eye on:

Secretary Jennifer Brunner: U.S. Senate from Ohio - if elected, she will be the very first woman senator from Ohio.

Rosemary Palmer: Ohio State House of Representatives, District 16

Tamela Lee: Ohio State Senate, District 27

Secretary Elaine Marshall: U.S. Senate from North Carolina

Patsy Keever: North Carolina State House of Representatives, District 115

Paula Brooks: U.S. House of Representatives, District 12

Rep. Marcia Fudge: U.S. House of Representatives, District 11

Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy: U.S. House of Representatives, District 15

Rep. Betty Sutton: U.S. Representatives, District 13

These women bring an incredible range of experience, skills, and leadership to the table that will begin to help us close the gender gap in Washington. 18 years ago, in 1992, we elected a record-breaking number of women to office.

We’re hoping that 2010 will be the second, much bigger Year of the Woman. Are we ready to attack this problem?