Democrat Kayla Young and Republican Patricia Rucker frequently clash on abortion rights and just about everything else in West Virginia's Legislature, but they agree on one thing: Too few of their colleagues are women, and it's hurting the state.
West Virginia state Rep. Kayla Young, D-Kanawha, sits at her desk in the House Chambers at the Capitol in Charleston, W.Va., on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2024. Democrat Kayla Young and Republican Patricia Rucker frequently clash on abortion rights and just about everything else in West Virginia's Legislature, but they agree on one thing: Too few of their colleagues are women, and it's hurting the state.
"It's absolutely wild to know that more than 50 percent of the population of West Virginia are women, and sometimes I'm the only woman that's on a committee, period," said Young, currently the only woman on the House Artificial Intelligence Committee and was one of just two on the House Judiciary Committee when it greenlighted the state's near total abortion ban.
And those running in southern, conservative states -- still mostly Democratic women, data show -- aren't winning as those states continue to overwhelmingly elect Republicans. Larissa Martinez, founder and president of Women's Public Leadership Network, one of only a few right-leaning U.S. organizations solely supporting female candidates, said identity politics within the GOP is a big hurdle to her work. Part of her organization's slogan is, "we are pro-women without being anti-man."
Tennessee state Sen. Charlane Oliver says she didn't have many resources when she first raised her hand to run for political office. She had to rely on grassroots activism and organizing to win her 2022 election. In South Carolina, the abortion debate resulted in an unlikely coalition of five women senators banding together to filibuster a near-total abortion ban. The group took turns describing pregnancy complications, the dangers surrounding limited access to contraceptives and the reproductive system. The chamber has since gained a sixth female senator, raising the total to three Republicans, two Democrats and one independent. Together they are known as the "sister senators.
"I ran for office because I feel like having that voice is actually really important -- someone who lives paycheck to paycheck," said Rucker, a first-generation U.S. citizen who made the difficult decision to pull her kids. "I'm not here because of a title, I'm not here because of a position, I'm here to do my job, and I want to do the best I can."The biggest stars are celebrating the year's best performances in film at the 2024 Oscars.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
B.C. New Democrat government delivers throne speech, budget on way in election yearIndependent and employee owned - local news stories, weather, sports, events and more
Read more »
B.C. New Democrat government makes pledges to homebuyers, renters, in throne speechThe speech outlining the government's goals this year comes just ahead of the provincial budget on Thursday and the election this fall.
Read more »
B.C. New Democrat government makes pledges to homebuyers, renters, in throne speechVICTORIA — The New Democrat government pledged more homes for middle-class people in British Columbia and eviction protection for renters in a throne speech that promised affordability measures in this week's budget, with a provincial election set fo
Read more »
CA Democrat Katie Porter Says the Senate Primary Race She Just Lost Was ‘Rigged’ by Billionaires'had the establishment running scared – withstanding 3 to 1 in TV spending and an onslaught of billionaires spending millions to rig this election.'
Read more »
Florida Democrat Posts, Deletes Weird Tweet About Sydney Sweeney's BreastsSara Boboltz is a reporter for HuffPost based in New York City. She can be reached at sara.boboltzhuffingtonpost.com.
Read more »
New Democrat bid to snuff out oil and gas advertising sparks backlash from provincial counterparts, Indige ...The Hill Times
Read more »