Year of the Republican women: GOP adds record number of women to Congress

According to the Center for American Women and Politics, 32 GOP women will join the next Congress, surpassing the record of 30 Republican women sent in 2006. At least 24 Republican women so far will be headed to the House — including at least 13 new members — closing in on the party’s 2006 House record of 25 women.  

Republican Beth Van Duyne in Texas’ 24th District declared victory after Democrat Candace Valenzuela conceded on Tuesday. In California’s 48th, incumbent Democrat Harley Rouda has conceded to Republican Michelle Steel. Their wins would surpass the record of 25 Republican women elected to the House. CBS News has not yet called these races.

 

“The 2018 cycle was a story of Democratic success; this year we are seeing significant gains on the Republican side,” said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics, in a statement. “Advances for women must come from both sides of the aisle if women are to achieve equal representation in Congress.”

House Republicans exceeded expectations Tuesday night, unseating at least seven incumbent Democrats in competitive races, and women Republican candidates were the ones who flipped the seats in all but one contest. The winning candidates were Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma, New Mexico’s Yvette Herrell, Michelle Fischbash in Minnesota, Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida, Ashley Hinson in Iowa, and in South Carolina, Nancy Mace.

“It’s a hundred years since women’s suffrage. And if women want to be in office, we want to see more women in office, women need to run,” said Mace, who will be the first woman to represent the Palmetto State in Congress.

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https://www.cbsnews.com/news/republican-women-congress-record-number/

(Congratulations from the Delaware Federation of Republican Women)