Is This the Year Women Break the Rules and Win?

Jun 29, 2018 · 30 comments
Susan (San Ramon)
The demographics actually favor the Democrats if and only if the millennials register to vote and actually do vote. Millennial women tend to be Democrats or independents and they could heavily influence an election if they would take over from Gen xers and the Baby Boomers. As a Boomer...I am waiting for you to step up. We need you.
Kay (Connecticut)
All politics is local. And winning a primary is not the same as winning the general election. So let’s not count our chickens. Still. All these female candidates jumped into the races before families were separated at the border, and before Justice Kennedy announced his retirement and put Roe v Wade in the cross-hairs. Suburban Republican women were already turned off by Trump and by the new song school shootings. If Dem women can’t win in this environment, then they can’t win at all. (The one silver lining regarding Kennedy is that it should drive women to the polls in droves.) Plus, lots of women have entered state-level races. The outcome of statehouse elections will be crucial to preserving abortion access when Roe v Wade falls. The MSM and Dem party must hammer on this unceasingly. Do you know the names of your state senator and representative? Learn them now, ladies! They are your future, and the future of your daughters and granddaughters.
Richard (Richmond Hill, GA)
You should do a story about a female candidate in a deep red state who has a very good shot. Her name is LISA RING. She is running against the Republican incumbent Congressman, Earl "Buddy" Carter. LISA RING is a tireless candidate who is in touch with the people of the entire Georgia 1st District (i.e. Savannah and Georgia coast). Check her out. You'll be very impressed. Better yet, run a story about her. We do read the NYT in the South.
EGH (Denver)
Saira Rao may have been energetic, but her main claim was that she was a woman of color. It takes more than that to go up against a champion of all women like Diana DeGette has been. DeGette is no Crawley.
Mclean4 (Washington D.C.)
More young ladies and ultra liberals are not going to help our divided Congress and country. Inexperienced young people would create more headaches for citizens. We don't need window dressings we need effective lawmakers and policy makers. Minorities and women are welcome additions to the Congress but with strong legislative experiences. I worked for US Congress more than 45 years and retired 15 years ago, I believe I know a little bit about the problems in our Congress. Plus I am also a minority myself. I like Carl Albert and Tip O' Neil.
Philip W (Boston)
Women will win big this November and that is a blessing. This is a great article with exception of comparing my Councilwoman with Ms. Cortez. They are opposites. Cortez is new, dynamic and proactive. Pressley is a failed Councilwoman of 4 terms who has done nothing for our City. She is not even endorsed by Black Leaders in Boston.
Matt (CT)
Last night I saw AOC on Colbert's show and she seemed to not be able to mention and emphasize the Bronx enough in her quick segment, at least 3 or 4 times. Although she grew up in upper middle class Westchester County. She also attended university in Boston. Not exactly a gritty, inner city politician. She's running mostly on liberal, collegiate fumes.
Crusader Rabbit (Tucson, AZ)
Note to all would-be Democratic Socialists. In order to develop the national wealth to provide a welfare State, you have to have a purely Capitalist economy. Then there's some money to spread around in welfare benefits. In other words, Mexico and Cuba may espouse Socialism but they have no money to provide any decent benefits to their citizens. The United States, where Socialism is a dirty word, provides enormous social welfare benefits to its citizens in the form of Medicaid, Medicare, decent schools, roads, hospitals, some public housing, etc.- in other words a paradise where people from poor Socialist, Left wing government countries are always trying to emigrate to. I hope that makes everything clear.
Chen (Queens, NY)
Note that there are two separate New York State primary dates. One in June for primaries for federal elections. And another in September for state and local elections. This was done by Albany intentionally to depress voter turnout. So only about 26,000 votes were cast in the NY 14th District, which is heavily Democratic and has a population larger than Boston. Let me know if the Pressley Capuano race only draws this few voters. And Pressley prior government experience. Cortez is completely unqualified, but turned out her voters. We have so many dedicated female and minority public officials in New York City who could have defeated Cortez. They have records to run on not just Chavismo promises. They didn’t run thinking Crowley was safe, but they definitely will in two years. Cortez is even fringe for most New Yorkers. Many of us came to America to escape the communists not to elect them.
Jeff N (Bay Shore, NY)
There is a major difference between Democratic Socialism and Communsim. My family tried to escape communism too. You should know the difference.
JLC (Seattle)
It it doesn't happen this year, it will not happen. Women will once again be forced to spend their time dealing with basic issues of reproduction, low pay, and institutionalized harassment if all of the Trump regime's priorities are met. Strategic disenfranchisement is the goal. It's NOW OR NEVER.
Barbara (Boston)
Nothing wrong with women running and winning. If they are the best candidates, I have no problem at all with voting for them. As for socialist wanting to abolish ICE, I shudder at the thought of voting for someone like that. I would feel the same way if it were a man advocating the same policies. So I'll be checking out my local candidates.
ms (ca)
I saw a TV interview of Ms. Ocasio-Cortez and it's no surprise she won. She talked about her platform and what she stood for instead of making it about being against Donald Trump. As much as I dislike Trump, it's important for candidates to emphasize the issues, especially ones that strike close to home like poverty, healthcare, and educational affordability. Those issues might trump (pun intended) ideology and tribalism because they are the ones people face day-to-day. Issues which resonate ACROSS party lines. No surprise she was a Bernie organizer: he was able to reach across divides and was the first candidate I ever donated a few hundred bucks to. I ended up voting for Clinton but she was not my first choice.
Mike Livingston (Cheltenham PA)
I think this has less to do with gender than with a white guy representing an 80 percent minority district . . . And living someplace else. OTOH there are other district like this, so it may not be entirely a one-off. But I doubt a national trend.
rf (Las Cruces,NM)
You forgot Xochitl Torres Small running for the 2nd congressional district in New Mexico. She would be a tremendous addition to the House of Representatives, replacing a tea partier who is now running for governor.
marrtyy (manhattan)
When Gerri Ferraro ran for VP my mother said so wouldn't get the women's vote because women are jealous of other women. And she didn't. In 2016 54% of white college educated women voted for Trump. Jealousy? Stupidity? AOC is a one off election. Crowley ran a lazy, entitled race. And he got just what he deserved. What all lazy, self-indulgent pols should get.
Jeff (Evanston, IL)
In Geraldine Ferraro's day of campaigning we didn't see huge marches of women in the streets. Just yesterday 600 women were arrested for demonstrating against Trump's lock-em-up child immigrant policy. Times have changed. Women will most definitely vote for women now, especially for younger, vibrant women with a just cause.
Marge Keller (Midwest)
“I think there is something new about women challengers that is different this year,” Ms. Katz said. “There is a hunger for a different type of perspective.” I am beyond thrilled that women continue to beat the odds and continue to build up steam and win elections this year. But what is extremely crucial and key for me is that Democratic candidates who continue to win will be smart, honest, hardworking, and will put party before politics. If these candidates happen to be women, then that’s a plus-plus in my book. But regardless of one’s gender, having integrity and intelligence while bringing new ideas, energy and possible compromises and solutions to existing struggles and issues must be paramount. To be honest, it’s been a long time since I was this excited about an election cycle, especially the midterms. May this hope and optimism carry these candidates through November and into the 2020 elections.
Prof Anant Malviya (Hoenheim France)
Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez stunning victory in New York Democratic Primary race should not be viewed simply as a woman-centric victory.As this article aim at projecting and many Political pundits seem to toe such a simplistic interpretation. The victory of Ocasio- Cortez is intrinsic to her socio-economic transformational programme that she so eloquently made a plank of her election campaign and under-privileged, marginalised section among electorates trusted her genuine concern for the haves-not. This is the message that Democratic Party has eclipsed both Under Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.Both their presidency, spanning 16 years ,followed the agenda of Ronald Reagan "Wealth for the wealthy".It has been a sceanario of unprecedented deception of American haves-not coupled with the negation of Frederick Roosevelt- Harold Truman ,'New Deal' that gave the catch phrase in american political vocabulary 'American Dream'. Ocasio- Cortez boldly declared herself as a socialist.People responded to it which could not have been acceptable in America but for the advent of Bernie Sanders on the American political scene Presidential race in 2016.The future historians shall credit Bernie Sanders for letting the word ' Socialism' a part of political discourse of America of 21st century politics. On the economic front,the programme that Ocasio- Cortez ardently committed to work for is ending neo-liberal economic order started by Reagan and pursued till Trump to the ruin of the haves-not.
ubique (NY)
Indeed. Ocasio-Cortez didn't win because she's a woman who's breaking the rules, she won because she ran on a platform which appropriately represents her district's interests. The fact that she's undeterred by whatever stigma that the words "democratic socialism" may have attached to them is simply icing on the cake.
Alex Vine (Tallahassee, Florida)
If women want avoid being taken back in time to the dark ages by the Republicans they, and by they I mean EVERY WOMAN in the country must go and vote out of office ANY Republican that's in office. Nothing else will save them Republicans have said openly that they will overturn Roe v. Wade as soon as they get their majority in the Supreme Court. That overturning is just the beginning of what they plan. Make sure they don't do it. Get them out of there.
Uncommon Wisdom (Washington DC)
What about the tens and hundred of millions of women who voted for Republicans? This level of vitriol against all who dare disagree with the "correct" opinion isn't a positive outcome. There were governments who sent dissenters to "re-education camps and the gulag. Exhorting all women to "vote out of office ANY Republican," does not advance civil discourse or acknowledge that many women agree with the GOP.
Philip W (Boston)
Please do not compare Ms. Cortez with Ms. Presley. Ms. Cortez is new to the system and has a dynamic personality that will take her places in Congress. Ms. Pressley is on her third or fourth term as my Councilor winning only because of her Incumbent status. She has done nothing for the City of Boston in her years on the Council. Nothing!! Even Black Leadership in Boston have endorsed Capuano over Pressley. I wish Ms. Cortez every success....she has what it takes. But wrong comparison to use Pressley.
iain mackenzie (UK)
I am delighted to see Alexandria and her team succeed. Its the truly brightest thing I have seen in the NYT in months. . . . and not wishing to be too cynical; is'nt the response of the voter that put her there not so very different from the populist vote that put Trump in? One hopes it goes deeper than that...
Uncommon Wisdom (Washington DC)
This is a one-off. In an election cycle in which anti-Trump sentiment has not prevailed, her victory in left-leaning Bronx must be kept in context. There won't be a surge of women elected to Congress. Moreover, the tenor of the headline repeats the popular trope that the world is somehow stacked against women. This may prompt women to vote but it isn't true.
L'historien (Northern california)
This is not a one off. That blue wave gets bigger by the day. Soon General Motors employee s will be laid off due to tarriffs. They will join the wave along with Harley Davidson employees.
Mr. Grieves (Nod)
Tbh I don’t care if they break the rules; I just want them to win.
Patrick McCord (Spokane)
This is just some weird New York thing. I'm kind of surprised there aren't more women elected in Blue States. It would seem liberals don't believe what they preach or we would see more women elected...
cvana (Locust Valley, NY)
Women are the only hope. This ruinous administration was come to an end. I'm in despair.
natriley (Manhattan)
The CUNY electoral maps disputes the notion that demographic and Hispanic solidarity elected Ocasio-Cortez. She won in the Bronx but with smaller margin, than in Sunnyside and Astoria where there is an influx of newcomers. In other words, voters responded to her and they were able to do that because she ran an effective campaign with her video getting 500,000 views. It was produced by a left wing outfit in Detroit where lo-cost real estate makes it possible to operate successfully on a shoestring. The map is here: https://twitter.com/cinyc9/status/1011803316056215552