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

A new report from the Pew Research Center

finds that women are far less likely than men to report that they have ever run for office. Only about 2 percent of those surveyed had ever run, but among them, 75 percent were men and just 25 percent were women. These findings jibe with CAWP's data showing that women hold no more than about a quarter of offices at any level.  CAWP's 2009 research report Poised to Run is just one of many sources reminding us that women, more often than men, run because they were recruited, rather than because they decided on their own to seek office. We also found that women officeholders are more likely to cite their party, rather than an organization, as the most influential source of encouragement for their candidacies. Because party support is so critical for women who successfully attain office, it's important for both parties to expand their efforts to recruit and support women candidates.

Women Rise to Tops of Ballots in WI, SD

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel asks whether gender will be a factor in statewide races, citing three women running in high-profile contests in Wisconsin. And a little further west, South Dakota also has numerous women seeking statewide office, per SFGate.com.

 

And in NE...

To no one's surprise, women won't be a majority in the unicameral Nebraska state legislature, says The Republic. But women may gain a few seats, and any progress is welcome.

 

Meanwhile, Back in PA

Progress may be more gradual in the Keystone State, according to  philly.com, where columnist John Baer says women continue to "crawl toward equality." (Luckily, help is on the way - with Ready to Run� programs in  Western and  Eastern Pennsylvania.)

 

Dads and Daughters

The Washington Post highlights a number of red-state Democratic candidates, including several women, who bring to the ticket family names well known in their states. 
 

Best Places for Women to Live...

...if your goal is women's equality, that is. WalletHub has sorted out the 50 states for you, placing Hawaii at the top and Wyoming at the bottom.

 

GOP Poll Shows Party Has Work to Do with Women Voters

Politico reveals findings from a poll conducted by two Republican groups indicating that women view the party as "intolerant," "lacking in compassion" and "stuck in the past."

 

What Stops Women from Running?

Drawing on the Pew report mentioned above, Katie McDonough offers this Salon commentary, offering her view of institutional barriers to women running and winning.

 

Center for American Women and Politics

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

191 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8557