In 2016, 212 women vied for a spot in the House of Representatives. In 2018, that figure more than doubled to 431 women. At a time when only 1 in 5 Congress members is a woman, we are in dire need of a shift in the people representing our country. But what is motivating this shift? Trump, and the subsequent Democratic retaliation against him.

Every one of Trump’s sexist remarks and actions have snowballed into an urge to act amongst Democratic women. Of the 431 women running, 363 are Democrats. From more recent events, like the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation, to Trump’s Access Hollywood tape, women want to combat the ideologies that let sexism slide in America.

Deborah Walsh, the director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, agrees that most of the momentum this election cycle is from Democrats. “I think the energy and the excitement and the determination, not just to run but also in terms of who’s going to show up to vote, right now, that’s on the side of the Democrats.” (NPR)

Why aren’t Republican women running for office in droves like Democratic women? They simply don’t have the same motivation to counteract the choices of the Trump administration. Trump’s declarations and motions are affiliated with the Republican party; Republican women aren’t going to push back against policies created by their own party. Even though this trend of women running for office is party-specific, it is inching our government towards inclusivity. When our lawmakers accurately reflect us, we can move towards a more just and equitable society.

Sources

Kurtzleben, D. (2018, February 20). More Than Twice As Many Women Are Running For Congress In 2018 Compared With 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/2018/02/20/585542531/more-than-twice-as-many-women-are-running-for-congress-in-2018-compared-to-2016

Image: http://www.msnbc.com/the-daily-rundown/113th-congress-the-numbers