2009 Election: Winning Female Candidates & Democrat Losses

by Jen Nedeau · 2009-11-04 03:50:00 -0500
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Yesterday's election was fraught with disappointment for Democrats. Instead of continuing the wave of "change" from just one year ago when Barack Obama was elected President, the 2009 elections delivered several big victories for the GOP: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the victory by Republican challenger Chris Christie for the governorship in New Jersey and then Republican candidate Bob McDonnell who won the Virginia gubernatorial race.

Interestingly, despite these losses, Beau Friedlander at Air America says that this shouldn't be considered a referendum on Obama, but rather an example of just how low the Republicans will go to win elections:

The GOP is racing to the bottom of its own depravity. They’ve stopped at nothing, floating racist memes and lies and distorting facts to achieve goals that are so blatantly pro-business and anti-American as to be laughable--if it weren’t for the fact that their message-making, via Fox News and talk radio, seems to find a home in the hearts and minds of many Americans.

Perhaps the most disappointing news last night was from Maine where voters rescinded the Legislature's approval of same-sex marriage. According to the Associated Press, gay marriage has now lost in all 31 states in which it has been put to a popular vote — a trend that the gay-rights movement had believed it could end in Maine.

In terms of women who won, however, there are several positive stories to break through the depressing news. Here are some of the victories of Women's Campaign Forum's Endorsed Candidates and a few others who I listed last week that ran at the state and local level:

  • Carolyn Comitta (Mayor - West Chester, PA)

  • Stephanie Hausner (Town Council - Clarkstown, NY)

  • Jessica Lappin (New York City Council)

  • Stephanie Miner (Mayor - Syracuse, NY)

  • Stacey Newman (State House MO-73)

  • Kathleen Rice (Nassau County District Attorney, NY)

  • Jill Miller Zimon (Pike Pepper Council)

Congratulations to these ladies who won their races. Now we must move onward to 2010, which will be the bigger election year as it will involve many more races and serve as a true barometer for whether or not President Obama can be re-elected in 2012.

Jen Nedeau Jen Nedeau is a media relations professional and a writer based in New York City.
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