January 2, 2018

79 women running for governor

Al. Com - At a time when nearly every aspect of politics feels suffused by issues involving gender, the leading Democratic contender for Michigan governor makes a point of rarely mentioning hers.

"I talk about jobs," former Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer says. "I talk about education. I talk about making government work for people. That's really the dinner-table issues that I hear from Michiganders in every part of our state."

Whitmer might not bring it up, but she represents what probably will be one of the 2018 elections' most significant trends: More women than ever are in the mix to potentially lead their states as governor - traditionally one of the hardest reaches for female candidates and a position now held by just half a dozen women.

Yet this year, at least 79 women - 49 Democrats and 30 Republicans - are running for governor or seriously considering it as filing deadlines approach, according to a tally by the Center for American Women in Politics at Rutgers University.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

My choice in the Michigan Democratic primary will be for Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a true young progressive with an amazing background. I'm all for having women running (and getting elected) for high office, but I'm more in favor of backing those whose campaign moves the state into a stronger pathway for the future.