Their moment is here, and Maine women are running with it [View all]

[jpak]

https://www.pressherald.com/2018/01/14/their-moment-is-here-and-maine-women-are-running-with-it/

A historic number of women are running for office this year, many spurred by the election of Donald Trump, inspired by the Women’s March and invigorated by the #metoo movement that is resculpting the social landscape.

More than double the number of women are running for Congress in 2018 than in the 2016 cycle. Emily’s List, which trains and supports pro-choice Democratic women candidates, saw a huge spike in calls right after the Trump election. Since then, 26,000 women have contacted Emily’s List about running – up from 920 women who reached out after the 2014 election.

In Maine, Emerge Maine has seen interest double in its training programs for Democratic women candidates, and it added a new “boot camp” three-day intensive program last fall specifically for 2018 candidates – many of whom are running for the first-time.

“It’s a massive increase in interest,” said Julie McClain Downey, the national director of campaign communications for Emily’s List. “I’m not sure anyone saw it coming.”

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