As results from the primaries and special elections came in on Tuesday night, one pattern became clear. Voters, especially Democrats, were leaning heavily towards female candidates. The Twitter account of G. Elliot Morris, data journalist for The Economist, served as a seismograph for the political earthquake:
#BREAKING Democratic candidate Lauren Arthur wins a special election for Missouri’s 17th’ state Senate District, swinging the district by 24 points and FLIPPING control from R to D. This is the 45th legislative seat Democrats have flipping from R to D since the 2016 election. pic.twitter.com/HRiXVUUmER
— G. Elliott Morris📈🤷♂️ (@gelliottmorris) June 6, 2018
#Projection: EMILY’S List-endorsed Cindy Axne will win #IA03 Democratic primary to face off against GOP Rep. David Young in the general.#IA03 has a partisan lean of R+4 and Democrats have a slight lead in the midterms forecast model. Seat is a Tossup.https://t.co/BSgfhQkgQg
— G. Elliott Morris📈🤷♂️ (@gelliottmorris) June 6, 2018
In #IA01, it is evident that Abby Finkenauer will win the Democratic nomination in the seat to face off against GOP Rep. Rod Blum in November. She’s the seventh woman to advance in tonight’s primaries from competitive Democratic primaries.
— G. Elliott Morris📈🤷♂️ (@gelliottmorris) June 6, 2018
whoever writes the book about women running for Congress taking back congress in the wake of Donald Trump will make millions. Looks like we’ll get 8 out of 9 competitive Dem primaries tonight.
— G. Elliott Morris📈🤷♂️ (@gelliottmorris) June 6, 2018
Other analysts agreed:
two big themes I've seen from D voters so far
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) June 6, 2018
1) Huge huge enthusiasm for women candidates
2) no real rebellion against establishment or party-macher-endorsed nominees, ala GOP in 2010
It's looking like another great night for Democratic women in top primaries, especially in Iowa. Abby Finkenauer in #IA01 & Cindy Axne #IA03 dominated their primaries. That's a big deal since Iowa has never elected a Dem woman to Congress https://t.co/x8Z3JspSxU
— Lisa Hagen (@LA_Hagen) June 6, 2018
“There have been 65 contests featuring at least one man, one woman and no incumbent on a Democratic primary ballot. Women have defeated men in 45 of those 65 races.” https://t.co/Lzsdnz5c41
— Sarah Lerner (@SarahLerner) June 6, 2018
Women are just crushing men in most congressional Democratic primaries these days. I don't think I've ever seen (or read about if we're being honest) anything like it.
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) June 6, 2018
If 2018 is shaping up to be the biggest “Year of the Woman” ever, a major reason is the lingering impact of the 2016 election, where the first female major party nominee was defeated by a crude misogynist. That election might have been a setback for women, but it’s clear that the lesson Democrats have taken from it is not to avoid female candidates but to embrace them.