Data: Record number of women seek
state office
Rutgers researchers see trend in legislative races across U.S.
By AP from the Home News Tribune Online, October 24, 2006
TRENTON, NJ — More women are running for legislative seats in their states than
ever before, according to information compiled by an academic group that tracks
women's involvement in American politics.
Data released yesterday by the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers
University's Eagleton Institute show a record 2,431 women are general election
candidates for state legislative seats on Nov. 7. That's 56 more female
candidates than the prior peak in 1992, when 2,375 women ran.
According to the center's director, that's good in one sense, but not so good in
another.
"To see an increase is a good sign, but one year does not make a trend," said
Debbie Walsh. "It's taken us 14 years to break the old record."
Walsh said it's important to see women running for and winning election to their
state legislatures because the seats provide a pipeline to higher office.
"A tremendous amount of policy is made that affects citizens, so we need women's
voices in that policy-making mix," she said.
Of the women seeking office, 1,563 are Democrats, 859 are Republicans and the
remainder are third-party candidates or are running in nonpartisan races.
The winners will join 240 women who are currently serving in their legislatures
who do not have to stand for re-election this year.
The total of 2,431 does not include women who are running for other statewide
elected posts: 10 women running for governor, 18 for lieutenant governor and 75
seeking other elected executive positions.
The center offers a state-by-state breakdown of female legislative candidates on
its Web site. It includes 228 women running from New Hampshire, 73 from Georgia,
seven from Nebraska and 55 from California. A handful of states, including New
Jersey, have no legislative elections this November.
In Maine, where 115 women are running for the Legislature, the most since 1994,
Walsh said some veteran female lawmakers were returning to politics after having
left because of term limits.
|
