Power of Women in the Midterms

Women running for office was a key topic when more than 70 members of the League of Women Voters assembled on September 11. Why hasn’t there been a woman governor in Colorado? Why didn’t Cary Kennedy win? Will women running for Congress win their races in the midterm elections?

Colorado is considered a progressive state on women rights. It passed women’s suffrage in 1893 and general economic rights before that, but it has not had a woman as governor. Lt. Governor Gail Schoettler got close in her run in 1998 against Bill Owens (8,000 votes). Women governors are common in other western states. Arizona has had four; Kansas, Oregon and Washington had two each; and one each in Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming.

Presentation to League of Women Voters

Cary Kennedy mounted a strong primary, but Jared Polis had higher name identification and a money advantage that was difficult to overcome. After she scared him at the state convention, he poured millions into the race in May and June. In addition, she and Mike Johnston, who also ran an effective, well-funded campaign, split an anti-Polis and more moderate vote. Expect to see her again.

Nationally, polls show women are favoring the Democrats in the generic congressional ballot by nearly two-to-one. Today, there are 84 women in the House in both parties and 23 in the U.S. Senate. There are likely to be more in the House in 2019 as 232 women are now running – 180 Democrats and 52 Republicans. The current prediction is that Democrats are likely to win the House and women will be a major force. Women are now 20 percent of the House. Someday, they will be a majority.

See Politico: ‘Something has actually changed’: Women, minorities, first-time candidates drive Democratic House hopes