Jackson Free Press

Newsweeks' Politics Blog is exploring the pivotal role that women played in this week's election—they wanted change, went to the polls and made it happen. Go, grrls.

In the nail-bitingly close Virginia Senate race, winner Jim Webb benefited from a 20-point gender gap. In Rhode Island, a 14-point gender gap gave Sheldon Whitehouse a boost. In Missouri, an 11-point gap helped Claire McCaskill. And in Montana, Jon Tester had a 9-point gap.

Democrats also won votes from women who've been firmly in the GOP camp in recent elections. In 2004, Dems lost white women by 11 points; this time they lost by just two. Republicans won married women by 10 points in 2004; this time they won by only two. And Dems actually tied this time for support among married mothers. "That wasn't picking up swing voters, that was stealing Republican votes," says Ramona Oliver, communications director for EMILY's List. "That's like getting union households to vote Republican." Dems also made striking gains among Hispanic women (up 18 points), independent women (up 12) and women 18 to 29 (up 14).

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Previous Comments

ID

108408

Comment

Good stuff, Donna, thanks. I don't know why this surprises me; blue states and blue areas in general--most notably, urban areas--tend to be those where women can more easily be independent and powerful without suffering as much of a social stigma for it. The more "citified" an area is, the more blue it is and the more feminist it is. That's a trend that goes back to the 18th century, where the industrialization of the Boston area caused residents to reject strict Puritanism, and in the always trade-oriented New York/New Amsterdam, the culture was relatively latitudinarian to begin with. One more thing to love about Jackson: It's arguably Mississippi's most feminist city, and the big blue block it turns into every two years proves that. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-11-11T18:49:52-06:00

ID

108409

Comment

We also heard a poll earlier that talked about how many people under 30 voted against Republicans this week. They are more independent and less likely to vote party line when people are screwing up. I like that. I may not be under 30, but I feel the same way. It's also a Jon Stewart/Keith Olberman world out there right now for younger Americans.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-11-11T19:03:02-06:00

ID

108410

Comment

Personally, my now blue women friends were scorned by the exploitation of the "church" in the gay amendment and other hate-based platforms that were tauted as "moral". Then the response to Katrina, when we saw children in the streets desperately needing help. Yep. That'll do it. I used to be the only left-leaning of the bunch. Not anymore.

Author

emilyb

Date

2006-11-11T21:55:28-06:00

ID

108411

Comment

It's actually very strange. I've been a Repub for most of my life. I remember the look of shock and horror when I told my grandma I'd registered Republican. Back in the day, I was even secretary of the campus Young Republicans. My, how times have changed. :D

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2006-11-11T22:02:27-06:00

ID

108412

Comment

Well, the exploitation of religion for cynical political gain is the story of our times. And I agree: Women are going to stop that little hat trick. Enough hypocrisy. This is nothing moral about corruption and sending soldiers into a poorly planned and executed war, not to mention torture. I could go on, but let's raise our glasses to the Chicks of America and leave the rest unsaid. For now.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-11-12T15:56:47-06:00

ID

108413

Comment

Hear, hear! Somebody has to stop this insanity. Why not us?

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2006-11-12T16:08:43-06:00

ID

108414

Comment

I'm thinking, for some reason, of Bill Maher's annoyingly Jungian description of the Republican Party as the macho "daddy party" that kills people and practices tough-love and the Democratic Party as the nurturing "mommy party" that takes care of the poor and has a decidedly less violent approach to life. I think Maher has oversimplified things, but there's no question that we live in a culture where violence and competitiveness are sublimated into male virtues, and the Republican Party exemplifies both right now. I would like to think that the long-term shift towards "compassionate conservatism" language represented an attempt to feminize the Republican Party a tad, but I reckon we'll see. I have just about come to the conclusion, though, that the single most dangerous political force in the world is machismo. It's why we have Ahmadinejad in Iran, and it's why we had Santorum in Pennsylvania. If we're going to have a future in this country, feminine values will need to rule. There is no room, in the 21st-century world, for macho politics. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-11-12T16:35:07-06:00

ID

108415

Comment

(And when I say "compassionate conservatism," I'm well aware of the fact that I'm just talking about rhetoric--"compassionate conservative" theory, largely known--thanks to MSM indifference--only to Republican insiders and political scientists, is anything but feminine. Cheers, TH)

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-11-12T16:56:09-06:00