Gender Breakthrough: 50% of the Candidates for President in 2020 are WOMEN!

Every four years, Americans, led by the media, ask:  who, among the many possibilities will run for president and, as each candidate announces his or her bid, the media and public assess whether or not that candidate is presidential material.

For many years, all the candidates have been male.  So extraordinary was it for a woman to be a candidate for president of the United States, that some of us have written about their trailblazing bids.  In a book I published in 2006 and re-issued in 2017, only six women were profiled.  There have been bids by other women, however, many of these women have been completely forgotten about and never in the history of United States political campaigns have four of the eight people announced for president–been WOMEN.

As of January 21, 2019, there are eight people who have announced that they are running for president and four of them are women.  The significance of this is something to write about, and appreciate.  For the past twenty years scholars, the press and the public have been asking:  When will America elect a woman president?

One thing is sure:  when more women run for president the likelihood that we will elect one, increases.

Sen. Kamala Harris (Calif.)

The latest announcement came from the California senator who spent a lot of time traveling to key battleground states before the November election.  She is running because she says that America’s values are on the line.

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California Attorney General Kamala Harris.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.)

Gillibrand has pointed out she was drawn into politics as a young girl.  She has been asked about her reversal on several positions since entering public office, but is a reliable liberal voice now and advocates for women’s rights.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Senator Warren was the first to announce her presidential bid for 2020.  Long an outspoken critic on economic issues, she is a well-known name, with a giant fundraising base and a demonstrated liberal record. Many wanted her to run in the Democratic primary in 2016 on the left of Hillary Clinton, but she didn’t, and the spot went to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

 

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

 

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard  of Hawaii announced that she will run for president.

Gabbard, an Iraq War veteran, is the first American Samoan and the first Hindu member of Congress.  She explains why coming from the Aloha state gave her the incentive to  help others.