This year’s midterms are going to be a big one, as emphasized by our deteriorating democracy and an American nightmare that seems to be crumbling apart every time we turn on the news or check our Twitter feed. The year 2018 is the year of the woman, with a record-breaking 527 women running for the U.S. House, Senate, and gubernatorial races throughout the country. That is a 67% jump from the 2016 election. In the aftermath of Trump’s victory and the midst of the #MeToo movement, women are more fired up than ever and motivated to rewrite the history books.
The names you are going to see down below are ones you’re going to want to pay attention to as November 6th gets closer. These are women that are going to indeed shake up Washington, and show that the future is not only female, but intersectional.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) NY-14 District
A proudly stated Latinx, Puerto-Rican girl from the Bronx, Ocasio-Cortez pulled a stunning upset at the June Democratic Primary in New York City by defeating ten-term incumbent Joseph Crowley. A Democratic socialist with a heavily progressive platform such as universal health care, a federal jobs guarantee, and abolishing ICE; Ocasio-Cortez is most likely going to become the youngest person to ever serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. A massive win for young voters and millennials in Congress.
Stacey Abrams (D) Georgia Governor
Abrams could become the first black woman to serve as governor of any state in the U.S. Abrams has substantial political experience behind her, serving as Minority Leader in the Georgia House of Representatives, Deputy City Attorney, in Atlanta, and in the Georgia General Assembly. In the deep red state of Georgia, she has a vision for the state that equality fosters prosperity. Believing in critical issues; such as criminal justice reform, immigrant justice, and voting rights for Georgians. Abrams hopes to talk to and inspire voters with her platform, even the ones that disagree with her.
Ayanna Pressley (D) MA-7 District
Fresh off of a stunning upset against ten-term incumbent Mike Capuano, Pressley almost certain to become to first black woman elected to the House from any state in New England. In a district that is made up of mostly people of color, Pressley believes it’s time that MA-7 has a representative that looks like its constituents. “I fundamentally believe that the people closest to the pain should be closest to the power,” Pressley said on the trail.
Deb Haaland (D) NM-1 District
If elected this November, Haaland would be the first Native American woman to ever serve in Congress. A member of the Pueblo of Laguna, she has been a recognized leader in tribal businesses and services for years. A former Democratic lieutenant governor nominee, she knows how to lead and organize. Focusing on issues such as Medicare for all, gun reform, and holding the Trump administration and their racist rhetoric accountable.
Ilhan Omar (DFL) MN-5
Omar has humorously stated that she is the “president’s nightmare.” As the first Somalian-Muslim-American woman to serve in any state legislature, she could become the first to do so in U.S. Congress as well. A member of Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, she is an immigrant who has been named a “rising star” within the plethora of progressive women running for Congress this year. Omar goals are to guarantee access to public education, achieve homes for all, and investing in the arts and humanities.
Cynthia Nixon (D) New York Governor
A well-known actress, Nixon decided to take political matters in her own hands. If she wins, she will become the first woman and queer person to ever serve as governor of New York. A self-described Democratic socialist, she has been very vocal on uber-progressive issues such as legalizing marijuana, renewable energy, and mass incarceration in the U.S. Nixon has pledged not to take any corporate PAC money for her campaign, a pledge many candidates are taking as a way to end corruption in our government.
https://cynthiafornewyork.com/
Christine Hallquist (D) Vermont Governor
Hallquist could become the first openly transgender woman to serve as governor in any state in the U.S. Hallquist served as the CEO of the Vermont Electric Cooperative giving her the sources to be a national leader on using renewable sources of electricity production to combat climate change. While in office, Hallquist has promised to raise the minimum wage to $15/hour, invest in infrastructure, and reform campaign finance.
https://www.christineforvermont.com/
These women aren’t just making history; they are living it. Leading the charge for real, progressive change in this country. The goal is not only to resist Trump, but to combat inequality and get people in office who more so look like America & will dismantle the extremely corrupt state our government is in right now.
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