There are currently 17 women in the 100 member U.S. Senate despite the fact that women make up slightly more than 50% of the population and slightly more than 50% of the electorate. Two of those women, Olympia Snowe of Maine and Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, are retiring. Yet, 2012 may prove to be another Year of the Woman. We could easily see six new Democratic women elected to the Senate this November. Here they are:
Mazie Hirono of Hawai’i. She needs to win a primary against DLCer Ed Case. If she does, she’ll be the favorite against former Governor Linda Lingle. Hirono is a non-practicing Buddhist who was born in the now irradiated Fukushimu region of Japan. She’s a member of the Progressive Caucus. If Hirono is the candidate, it is assured that this seat will be held by a woman.
Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts is going up against Sen. Scott Brown. Ms. Warren needs no introduction. She is a personal friend and confidant of the president, and she’s the toughest advocate for consumers in the country. On the issues, she appears to be an across-the-board progressive.
Shelley Berkley of Nevada. I have some problems with Rep. Berkley, but I like that she was the first in her family to go to college and that she paid for her education, including a law degree, by working the Vegas Strip as a cocktail waitress and Keno runner. That’s the kind of personal experience and perseverance I want in the Senate. She’s at least an even bet to oust appointed Senator Dean Heller.
Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota. Her mom worked in the school lunchroom and as a custodian. Her dad did seasonal construction and drove a truck. Ms. Heitkamp has served as State Tax Commissioner and Attorney General. She once was an attorney for the EPA but she is now the director of the Dakota Gasification Company. I don’t expect to agree with her on energy issues, and on many other things besides. But I like her humble roots.
Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin. You know Tammy, right? She’s a member of the Progressive Caucus. She’s openly lesbian. She’s a scrapper. And she’s going to ride the wave progressives have built in Wisconsin to victory.
Chellie Pingree of Maine. She may have to win a crowded primary, but she’ll be favored to take over Olympia Snowe’s seat if she does. She has the odd credential of being a member of the Progressive Caucus while being married to a hedge-fund manager. She got her start operating a yarn shop on an island off the coast of Maine. That’s all this household needs to know.
We can and should win all six of these seats. It should also be noted that Republican Heather Wilson is running for the open New Mexico seat. If she won, there could be seven new women in the Senate to replace to the two that are leaving.
If we get more women, we’ll get less foolishness. In any case, we could see a jump from 17 women in the Senate to 21 or 22. The men in the Republican Party (and fools like Bob Casey of Pennsylvania) are making that outcome more likely every day.
