Get serious, America

Let’s talk about women in politics.

Ramping up to the 2016 caucuses, we have two female presidential candidates: Carly Fiorina (R) and Hillary Clinton (D). Carly Fiorina, formerly the CEO of Hewlett-Packard (HP), had gained early steam in the Republican presidential debates proving herself with actual policies and plans — but has fallen out of favor in the polls. Hillary Clinton, former First Lady, Secretary of State, and US Senator, is not new to the presidential race and is facing tough numbers as of late against Bernie Sanders.

In my Millennial mind, I’m thinking, “Finally! The first time there are two female presidential contenders!” To my great surprise, this is not true.

Pioneering Women of American Congress

Back in 1972, two groundbreaking women took a chance at becoming the first female — and minority — president: Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, and Patsy Mink, the first Asian-American woman elected to Congress.

Shirley Chisholm (D-NY)

An educator turned politician, she ran her US congressional race in Brooklyn back in 1968 under the slogan “unbought and unbossed.” She was like an original political outsider, irking the status quo politicians of the late sixties: old, male and white. But that didn’t dismay her; just like in her slogan, she worked her way onto the Education and Labor Commitees and championed early education and child welfare.

When she began her political career, running for NY state legislature, she saw a need for the people to be truly represented and fight for their needs. A skilled debater in college, Chisholm had the prowess to enter a tough political atmosphere and make a difference. She helped establish the WIC program, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the National Women’s Political Caucus.

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Patsy Mink (D-HI)

As a high-achieving Japanese-American high school student in WWII Hawaii, who was class president and valedictorian, it’s hard not to see Patsy Takemoto Mink’s bright future in politics. She fought and beat segregation policies at University of Nebraska by building coalitions between the students, faculty, parents, and even corporations. This ability to unite different stakeholders played a strong role in her political career: solidifying the Democratic Party’s stance on civil rights in 1960, championing Title IX and introducing the Early Childhood Act and Women’s Educational Equality Act. She also readily questioned the creation of the Department of Homeland Security with concerns of people’s civil rights, citing what she had witnessed of the Japanese internment camps in her youth.

Midterm Election Hangover: A Recap

Hopefully you’ve realized that midterm elections happened yesterday and noticed considerable changes (hello, no more political attack ads: YAY). Although midterm elections are relatively less eventful than presidential elections, this year’s had quite a bit up for grabs: gubernatorial races in 36 states, senate and house seats in Congress, and assorted state level officials (Secretary of State, Attorney General, etc). The biggest prize was control of the Senate; the Republicans had control of the House of Representatives and only needed 6 seats to take control of the Senate as well.

So now the Republicans have the majority in both, making a ‘Red’ Congress with a ‘Blue’ president.

What does that mean for us? Favorable legislation for Republicans should pass through Congress relatively quicker than split control. But, the president still has the power of the veto. The ebb and flow of party control occurs naturally (in 2008, the Democrats had control  of both the Senate and the House of Reps) and with Obama’s approval rating at about 42%, it was evident that there would be some changes. And with 2016 being the next presidential election, Republicans are hopeful to gain full control of the White House and Congress.

Notable Governor’s Results

• Illinois elected Bruce Rauner (R) over incumbent Pat Quinn (D). Big upset considering Illinois is traditionally a blue state and Obama’s home state. My take: Rauner had endorsements of major IL newspapers (Chicago Tribune, Sun-Times) and probably played to the rest of Illinois (outside of Chicago) and Quinn had the unlucky favor of being an IL governor (which usually find their way to jail–Blago anyone?). On a side note, I did get to shake Quinn’s hand at a PR event at my school, so that was cool.
• My home state of Michigan reelected Rick Snyder (R), “One Tough Nerd”, edging out Mark Schauer (D). As a businessman, Snyder has given tax cuts to businesses and relieved regulations on corporations. His strongest point was the treatment of Detroit, allowing it to sink into bankruptcy and rise out of it stronger. The Detroit Free Press mentioned that in this race “business and labor often disagree, but they’re never more polarized than they were about Snyder and Schauer and this election.” My take: hopefully education funding/policy doesn’t suffer too many more complications. Clear up what is being done, and how much schools are actually getting.
• Maryland also switched gears as they voted in Larry Hogan (R) over Anthony Brown (D). Like Illinois, they are traditionally a blue state.

Buzzfeed created a nifty before/after map of which states flipped party control with governors (to see the slider, click here):

Notable Amendment Changes

• Legalizing Marijuana: Florida, Oregon, Washington D.C. and Alaska all had ballot measures on pot. Oregon, Alaska, and D.C. all voted to legalize recreational use of marijuana. Florida voted down allowing medical marijuana use.
• Raising Minimum Wage: Alaska, Arkansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota all passed ballot measures in raising the state minimum wage incrementally over the next few years. San Francisco voted to raise their min. wage to $15, Illinois will have a referendum on raising min. wage, and other states approved changes on mandatory sick leave. Some concerns though, considering the turn of control to Republicans who tend to not favor minimum wage increases.
• Complete results of ballot measure votes here

Cool Reads to Impress Your Political Friends (or PoliSci professors)

• The Economist: “If Republicans win the Senate…” – Written on Oct. 18, they analyze two different scenarios for the next 2 years. Short on time? They include lovely chart that sums it up half way through the article.
• Buzzfeed: “14 of the Weirdest Places People Voted on Election Day” – In my hometown in Michigan, I would have voted in the firehouse or the elementary school — mundane, ordinary places. But in large cities like Chicago, other locations will have to suffice for the dense population. I read that a friend voted here in Chicago at a bar — and this list includes a fair share of other odd polling places in Chicago as well.
• USA Today: “Elections 2014: Winners and Losers” – Sums up the political players who, well, won or lost. Good read for name drops during political conversation.
• Washington Post: “More than 100 women in Congress for the first time, but not much growth” – We’re slowly getting to more of an ideal “equal representation” with more women in Congressional seats. But it’s 2014; shouldn’t women be holding more than 20% of the total seats?