Featured Post from University of Mary Washington

A record number of female candidates are running in 2020

Aug 13, 2020

2 min

Rosalyn Cooperman


It’s been a full century since the 19th Amendment was passed in the United States, giving women the right to vote. This year, women are not only casting their ballots - they're appearing on them in record numbers. 


A record number of women are running for Congress this year, boosted in part by a surge of Republican women seeking office in a party struggling to regain lost ground with female voters.


The influx adds to the advances female candidates — mostly Democrats — made in the 2018 midterm election that helped reshape the makeup of Congress. It also has echoes in the presidential race, based on voting patterns from two years ago and Democrat Joe Biden’s lead in polls over President Donald Trump among female voters. Biden has vowed to pick a woman as running mate.


As of July 1, 574 women had filed to run in primaries for U.S. House seats, topping the record 476 from two years ago, according to data compiled by the center. Another 58 women filed to run for the Senate, compared with 53 in 2018. In all, that’s a 20% increase in women making congressional bids. July 13 – Providence Journal



It is an impressive number and one every American should be proud of. But there are a few questions that still need to be asked.




  • With close to 220 GOP women vying for a seat in Congress – has the party that traditionally does not have the support of women voters finally changed its course?


  • Are female candidates motivated by the need to change when it comes to key issues like health care, the environment, and the economy?



If you are a journalist looking to cover the increased number of females running for elected office this November – then let our experts help.


Dr. Rosalyn Cooperman, associate professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and member of Gender Watch 2018, is an expert on women in politics. She is available to speak with media regarding this topic – simply click on her icon to arrange an interview.


Connect with:
Rosalyn Cooperman

Rosalyn Cooperman

Professor of Political Science

Dr. Cooperman's expertise focuses on women in politics.

Women and PoliticsAmerican PoliticsCongress

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