Democratic women continue to sweep into office in 2019
Democratic women candidates backed by groups such as Emerge America continued to make gains in the 2019 elections, closing the gender gap in a number of state and local governments.
In Virginia, a record 65 Democratic women won their races in the House of Delegates and the state Senate, giving Democrats majorities in both legislatures.
Tuesday’s elections also saw women win mayoral races for the first time in Scranton and Tucson, and make up a majority for the first time on Boston’s City Council.
Democratic women’s groups and the candidates are hopeful that the surge in officeholders will help bring attention to issues they have campaigned on, such as improved access to health care and abortion rights.
In Richmond, for example, the surge in female legislators is expected to provide a new impetus to the Equal Rights Amendment, making it likely Virginia will become the 38th and final state needed to push through a constitutional amendment.
The surge in women officeholders reflects a confluence of factors, including candidates fired up by opposition to President Trump's policies, and it comes after a record number of Democratic female lawmakers were elected to Congress in 2018, in what became known as the "year of the woman."
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/469663-democratic-women-continue-to-sweep-into-office-in-2019
