Stacey Abrams made history Tuesday night as the first black woman in the country to win a major party’s nomination for governor, beating her opponent, Stacey Evans, by more than 50% in the Georgia Democratic primary race.
This fall, the former minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives could become the first female black governor in US history, but she doesn’t intend to be the last.
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“The problem is that the best achievers in our community are seen as exceptions and never rules,” Abrams told Marie Claire in a recent interview. “My mission is to become the rule — to say, look, this is what we can do, and there is nothing about my race, my gender, or my economic background that should disqualify me or anyone else.”
Abrams is just one of several women pushing boundaries this election season.
Lupe Valdez, the former Dallas County Sheriff, won the Democratic party nomination for governor of Texas on Tuesday, making her both the first Latina and the first openly gay candidate to win a major party’s nomination in the “Lone Star” state. At least seven other Texan women won their primaries races last night as well.
Tonight:
— Charlotte Clymer🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) May 23, 2018
Stacey Abrams became the first black woman to be a major party nominee for Governor of Georgia.
Lupe Valdez became the first Latina + LGBTQ person to be a major party nominee for Governor of Texas.
Women EVERYWHERE are winning House primaries.
THE. FUTURE. IS. HERE.
.@LupeValdez also says she’s tired of being told her race against Abbott will be an uphill battle: “Please tell me when I didn’t have an uphill battle.”
— Brandon Formby 📝 (@brandonformby) May 23, 2018
In Kentucky, whose congressional members are currently all men, veteran Amy McGrath won the Democratic House primary race.
“While it was my name on the ballot, it’s really not about me,” McGrath said during her victory speech in Madison County last night.
I want to thank everyone who knocked on a door, made a phone call, slapped on a bumper sticker, wrote a check, spoke to a friend, and got out to vote. This victory is yours. I’m honored and humbled to have earned your nomination to represent #KY06
— Amy McGrath (@AmyMcGrathKY) May 23, 2018
Now, let’s go win another!
Read more: Costa Rica Just Elected Latin America’s First Black Female Vice President
And in Pennsylvania, currently represented in congress by 20 men, at least seven women won their primary races on May 15 and will be on the ballots this fall, the New York Times reported.
There is not one woman congressional member in Pennsylvania, not one woman Senator and not one woman in elected statewide office.
— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) May 16, 2018
Today, in Pennsylvania's primary, 23 women ran for Congress and one woman ran for Governor.
2018 will be the year of the woman.
CONGRATS TO DEMOCRATIC WOMEN CANDIDATES IN PENNSYLVANIA...KICK ASS & TAKE NO PRISONERS LADIES👏🏻
— Cher (@cher) May 17, 2018
YOU GIVE US ALL HOPE🙏🏻
MEN HAVE HAD COMPLETE CONTROL & WE’VE SEEN THE CHAOS & CARNAGE THEY’VE LEFT BEHIND.🙄
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET IT DONE RIGHT...LET A WOMAN DO IT💪🏻
Currently, women hold just 20% of the seats in Congress, but that could soon change. This year has seen an unprecedented wave of women running for political office across the country.
Read more: The US & Saudi Arabia Met — And Not a Woman Was In Sight
Nearly 400 women have filed candidacy papers for races in the House, breaking the previous record of 298 female candidates for representative seats in 2012, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. And 36 women have filed for Senate races, just eking by the past high of 34 in 1994.
However, the filing period in several states is not over yet, and it is predicted that dozens more women will file for congressional races. With so many women already in the running — and potentially more joining races — Congress could be poised to make history this fall.
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