January 28, 2014

CAWP NEWS & NOTES

A newsletter to keep you informed about all things women and politics from the Center for American Women and Politics, Rutgers University

20 and Counting?

What are the prospects for women seeking U.S. Senate seats in 2014? Read CAWP's latest Closer Look research brief and check out The Washington Post's coverage of it to see who's running and how this year compares to others.

Going Into the Family Business

When women first started serving in elected office, it was often as widows succeeding to their husbands' seats. This year, we're seeing evidence of a different kind of legacy - daughters of former elected officials becoming candidates (including in some of the Senate races highlighted in our Closer Look). Read the latest entry in CAWP's Footnotes blog to learn more.

So Much to Talk About...

CAWP's Kelly Dittmar was among the panelists when Melissa Harris-Perry focused on women in politics last Sunday on MSNBC. Check out Dr. Dittmar talking with the panel about attacks on Wendy Davis, Mike Huckabee and GOP outreach to women, and what happens when women run.

Not too late...

There's still time to register for CAWP's Ready to Run™ campaign training, set for March 21-22 on the New Brunswick campus. The latest addition to an already stellar lineup of political experts: Congresswoman Grace Meng will keynote the Diversity Initiative program on the 21st. Learn more about Ready to Run™ here.

State of the Union: Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers is the first woman to give birth three times while serving in the House - and mom-related themes are likely to be woven into her official Republican response to the State of the Union Address tonight.

When you picture Hillary Clinton... what comes to mind -- a diplomat? a senator? a First Lady? an attorney? a mom? For Time magazine, it's a giant crushing a man under the heel of her sensible pump. For The New York Times Magazine, it's a planet amidst a galaxy of celestial networks. Go figure.

Progress and Problems in States: According to The Washington Post, Republican Governor Terry Branstad - along with many others - is ready to elect Iowa's first woman to the U.S. Senate or U.S. House. And speaking of firsts, the National Journal speculates about the possibility that Pennsylvania - a state ranking 38th for its proportion of women legislators - could elect its first woman governor. Meanwhile, California is headed in the opposite direction, with fewer women in its state legislature than in recent years, despite the presence of women in powerful statewide offices and in Congress.

Top Businesswoman: The last open slot in President Obama's cabinet will be filled by his designee as head of the Small Business Administration, Maria Contreras-Sweet. NPR reported on the new appointee's rise from granddaughter of a migrant worker to presidential appointee.

Who's Running? More Women of Color: Women's e-news featured an excerpt from More Women Can Run, by CAWP senior scholars Susan Carroll and Kira Sanbonmatsu. In it, they explain how the rise in the number of Democratic women in state legislatures is driven by the increasing number of women of color.

Center for American Women and Politics

Eagleton Institute of Politics

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

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