Donald Trump backlash inspires record number of women to run for Congress
Number of women who ran in 2016 doubles ahead of November's mid-term elections
The backlash against Donald Trump’s presidency has prompted a record number of women to run for office this year.
More than double the number of women who ran for Congress in 2016 have put their names forward ahead of November's mid-term elections, in which Democrats hope to wrest control of Congress from Trump's Republican party.
“I definitely think Donald Trump in that election was an awakening for us,” said Katie Hill, who is running as a Democrat in a seat held by a Republican for the last 25 years. “I think it made us realise our status in society is more delicate than a lot of us realised.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“Now we’ve got this trigger of ‘we can do this’ and ‘we have an obligation to do this’ there’s more of an unwillingness to sit by when we're represented by less than 20% of the people in Congress being women,” she said.
Sky News says the shift “was evident on the day after Mr Trump's inauguration, when the women's march on Washington drew the largest single-day protest crowd in US history”.
The president’s past comments and actions towards women, including multiple allegations of sexual misconduct prompted by the Access Hollywood tape, which surfaced weeks before the 2016 election, have mobilised a campaign that has since been buoyed by the #MeToo movement.
Now it could deliver more women to Congress in a year in which Democrats are hoping to gain a majority in the House of Representatives.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Cicada-geddon: the fungus that controls insects like 'zombies'
Under The Radar Expert says bugs will develop 'hypersexualisation' despite their genitals falling off
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Is the Gaza war tearing US university campuses apart?
Today's Big Question Protests at Columbia University, other institutions, pit free speech against student safety
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Who will win the 2024 presidential election?
In Depth Election year is here. Who are pollsters and experts predicting to win the White House?
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
National Enquirer helped Trump in 2016, ex-boss says
Speed Read David Pecker says the tabloid published fabricated content to hurt Trump's rivals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sitting in judgment on Trump
Opinion Who'd want to be on this jury?
By Susan Caskie Published
-
How could the Supreme Court's Fischer v. US case impact the other Jan 6. trials including Trump's?
Today's Big Question A former Pennsylvania cop might hold the key to a major upheaval in how the courts treat the Capitol riot — and its alleged instigator
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'A direct, protracted war with Israel is not something Iran is equipped to fight'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'Good riddance to the televised presidential debate'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published