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Political parties

The Year of the Conservative Woman

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The 2010 primary elections have seen a significant increase in the number of Republican women running for public office, with the party nominating more female candidates than in any previous election cycle. This trend is marked by the emergence of conservative women who are prioritizing fiscal conservatism over traditional women's issues. The Republican Party's shift towards embracing women as symbols of an alternative to the male-dominated status quo in the capital is a significant development that could have far-reaching implications for the party and the country.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of GOP women running for U.S. House or Senate seats has doubled over the past two years, with a total of 22 women nominated by the party this year.
  • The Republican Party has nominated more female candidates than in any previous election cycle, with notable examples including Carly Fiorina in California, Meg Whitman in California, Susana Martinez in New Mexico, Linda McMahon in Connecticut, Nikki Haley in South Carolina, and Sharron Angle in Nevada.
  • The conservative women leading the charge in the Republican Party, including Sarah Palin, are focusing on fiscal conservatism and have not emphasized traditional women's issues in their campaigns.
  • The emergence of this new breed of female Republicans is significant, as they are not only statistics, but also symbols of an alternative to the male-dominated status quo in the capital.
  • According to a Rasmussen Reports poll, Sharron Angle is ahead of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid by a 50 to 39 margin.
  • The Republican Party's shift towards embracing women could send a powerful message of diversity that could be crucial to capturing independent voters in several fall midterm races.
  • A small shift in party loyalty among women could change the outcome of the next election, with the potential for a major change in the control of Congress.

Statistics:

  • 22 GOP women were nominated by the party in the 2010 election cycle.
  • 41% of American women identify themselves as Democrats, compared to 25% who identify themselves as Republicans.
  • 10% of independent and Democratic women voted for Republican Senate and congressional candidates in the 2008 presidential election.
  • If 10% of the same demographic group votes for Republican candidates in the 2012 election, it could result in a rollback of some of the liberal social welfare policies of the Obama administration and Congress.
  • 56% of women voted for President Obama in the 2008 presidential election, compared to 48% of men.

Sources:

  • "The Armstrong Williams Show" on Sirius/XM Power 169
  • Rasmussen Reports poll
  • "The Washington Times"
  • Various statements from Sarah Palin and Kellyanne Conway.

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