The year of 1992 was dubbed the “Year of the Woman” for the record amount of women that ran and were elected for office. During that year, 6 out of the 11 women who ran for Senate were elected while 24 out of 104 women who ran for House were elected. But 2018 is being called the new “Year of the Woman” and the number of women running for office this year showcases a staggering difference from 1992: 602 women are running for a seat in the House, Senate and for governorship.

Many websites, such as Vox, propose that the spike in women running is caused by a “backlash to [the election of] President Donald Trump and is an extension of the historic Women’s March after he was inaugurated.” The majority of those running for office this year are Democratic while only 134 women running are Republican.

In their campaigns, women are not only explaining their qualifications, identities, and experiences, but many are talking about what it’s like to be a mother. Kelda Roys, a mother running to be governor of Wisconsin, focused on being a mother in her campaign ad which included her breastfeeding on camera, something many would find revolting and taboo. Roys is one of many women pursuing a political leadership role as a proud mother instead of adopting traditionally masculine characteristics that are prevalent in our nation’s government. The infographic below details how many women are running for office across the nation and visually shows how 2018 is the new “Year of the Woman.”

By: Kerasa Tsokas