In the 2018 midterm election, 40 percent of women voted for Republicans (Pew Research Center). Loosely, this statistic represents the percentage of conservative women in America: almost half of all women.
This statistic is important because if Congress truly reflected the population it represents, 50 percent of our 435 representatives would be women and then 40 percent of those women would be conservative. This would leave us with Republican women holding 87 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, yet they only hold 13. This statistic is startling for Republican women like me.
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik has recognized this crisis and is trying to not only make sure my voice is better represented but those of all Republican women across the country. Her personal success not only speaks volumes to her constituents, but her willingness to help other Republican nominees and potential congresswomen is something I find to be very inspiring.
This record of results is real, and yes, includes work done on her behalf for women. She has been an advocate for, and even introduced a crucial bill to try to end the gender pay gap in our country and has co-sponsored copious amounts of legislation to help our women in uniform and veterans. Championing equal pay for equal work and throwing her continuous support behind our military spouses and service members are bipartisan stances that make me so proud to call Elise my congresswoman.
Erica Nash
Carthage
(4) comments
This would leave us with Republican women holding 87 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, yet they only hold 13. This statistic is startling for Republican women like me.
Well, the good news is that after the 2018 election there were a record number of women in the House. Try to see the glass as half-full. It was 127 and would’ve been a record even without the 13 GOP women.
The fact that Stefanik has to debase herself and not say a discouraging word no matter how racist, misogynistic or just plain insane (e.g. injecting bleach) the things Trump says. I mean she hasn’t had to go full QAnon yet. Still, what woman, or man for that matter, would subject themselves to that?
Since I’m here. Where is the replacement for ACA, Elise? You ran on Repeal and Replace twice. Time’s almost up. Trump is at the Supreme Court killing pre-existing conditions.
The good news is that if Stefanik loses, Congress won’t lose a woman. “Always look on the bright side of life.”
Vote Biden/Cobb
[thumbup]
Where to start?
Well, first of all, 40% - a number you seem to have made up since there is no basis cited for claiming it - is not "almost half". It's closer to one-third. Second, there is a very simple reason that there are few Republican women in Congress. Republican men won't permit it. In a recent article published by fivethirtyeight.com - the preeminent source for political statistical information in the US - the number of Democratic women competing for seats in the House of Representatives, nationally, was 350, compared to 118 Republican women (of any degree of conservatism.) Democratic women won 118 primaries (34%) compared to 25 Republican women (21%). That is, Democrats won 81% of primaries in all races that included a woman. There could be a number of explanations for the higher success rate of Democratic women in primary campaigns (better candidates, better messages, better planning and execution of GOTV) but the imbalance may also be due to the greater support provided by the Democratic party on behalf of women candidates. It's no wonder that there are three times as many Democratic women as Republican women serving in the House. (Separately, it's worth mentioning that women in STATE legislatures contests have even less support from Republicans and are thus denied critical OTJ experience and resume enhancement opportunities.) Third, that 'the House should mirror the 'population distribution' is a odd belief and absolutely not required by the Constitution. (Do we really need any more Texas and Florida clowns in the House, swaggering, staggering, and wasting everybody's time?) It is clear that the Republican party has no record to be proud of in developing and encouraging non-whites to enter the political conversation either. The US population has between 12% and 15% African American citizens depending on the criteria used. But there is only one African American Republican Senator (2%). Coincidence?
While I don't agree with your conclusions about Stefanik's competence, integrity, and results for NY-21, I very much appreciate that you took the time to speak your mind. GOOD FOR YOU! It's NOT "the blood of patriots that refreshes the Tree of Liberty". It's people who care about this country, and say so. Don't stop.
Reference:
Why the Republican Party Elects So Few Women. fivethirtyeight 25 June 2018
Great comment, LAW
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.