Number of women running for US Congress at record level

The number of women running for Congress this year is higher than ever before, according to research.
Analysis of female candidates in the upcoming election shows 295 so far have filed for seats in the House of Representatives, with another due to file in August. The previous record of 262 was set in 2010.
Women are also on track to break the record for the number of who have won their nomination battles, according to the non-partisan 2012 Project and the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP).
One hundred and thirteen women have already won their primaries, at a time when over half of the states have had primaries. The previous record, in 2004, was 141.
There remains a large disparity in the political make-up of those running, however. Democrats have filed in much greater numbers – 185 compared to 110 Republican women – and have also won their nominations at a higher rate, 85 Democrats to 28 Republicans.
Debbie Walsh, director of CAWP, described the results as “encouraging”. If the pattern continued, Walsh said, she could envisage a post-election America where women made up 20% of the House, compared to 17% now.
“There is a scenario where we could reach 20%, but it depends on how the Democratic party overall does,” said Walsh.
The analysis showed a “partisan story of lopsided politics,” she said. “If it is a good year for Democrats, it is likely to be a good year for women. Obviously we would be happy with 50% but we’re not going to go from 17 to 50 in a single election cycle.”

Read more.. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/11/record-number-women-candidates-congress

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