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Kate Hawkesby: Women are the real winners of America's Midterms

Author
Kate Hawkesby,
Publish Date
Fri, 9 Nov 2018, 7:34AM
JoAnn Loulan, center, reacts with her mother-in-law, Sydney Crawford, at left, after projections that Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm elections. Photo / Getty Images

Kate Hawkesby: Women are the real winners of America's Midterms

Author
Kate Hawkesby,
Publish Date
Fri, 9 Nov 2018, 7:34AM

America is a fascinating watch at the moment. They’ve taken the pulse of the people and women, in particular, have given them a strong reading.

They have said no thanks, we don’t like it.

Trump claimed the Midterms were a win for his Presidency, the real winner though was women.

Women have catapulted into Congress in record numbers. For the first time in history, there will be more than 100 women in the House of Representatives.

More women and LGBT people ran this time than ever before.

The youngest woman ever elected into office, the first two Native American women elected, the first two Muslim women elected, the first Somali-American Congresswoman, Texas elected its first two Hispanic congresswomen, these are phenomenal statistics if you think about middle America.

The new picture America’s Midterm results paints is a one of a country on the road to evolution.

Or is it?

These women are still, politically, a minority. But there seems an appetite for change and that’s being driven by women.

So do we have President Trump to thank for all this?

Has his attack dog style of politics, his put-downs and his name calling, pushed women to the brink, to the point where change is being forced?

Look at the turnout for example. Records broken for early voting, people exercised like never before.

It doesn’t matter what your politics, you can’t argue that firing up voters and getting people energized into polling booths, isn’t a win all round.

The female reps though not only increased their numbers in congress but they’re a new diverse group, from a variety of backgrounds, and we may start seeing that reflected in legislation and policy. That's another win.

So who's leading the charge? Well, it’s young women, many of whom were first-time voters. Exit polls showed that two-thirds of female voters younger than 30, voted Democrat. If America is about identity politics, in which Trump’s base is white, male, conservative and Christian, then I’d suggest that group has been delivered a strong message here.

There is a gradual transformation of the political landscape underway, and its progression will likely hold President Trump to account.

Will it go so far as to scuttle his chances in 2020 though?

I wouldn’t bet on it.

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