In the wake of Kamala Harris‘s defeat in the presidential race, the vision of a woman in the White House remains tantalizingly out of reach.
The vice president’s loss marked the second time in eight years that a woman has run for and failed to reach the Oval Office, with voters opting again to elect Donald Trump (who made history himself as the first convicted felon to be elected president). The former – and now future – president even slightly expanded his support among women this time around.
As the nation grapples with the outcome, some women are left pondering: will there ever be a female president? And with sexist and misogynistic language surging online during the campaign and after the result was declared, will any woman still want to pursue a political career and the highest office in the land?
“Politics seems toxic,” said Erin Loos Cutraro, founder of She Should Run, a charity focused on getting women into politics. “Negative public discourse around female candidates, especially at the presidential level, can deter women from running, given the increasingly toxic climate.”
Research in September by She Should Run indicated that women showed no increase in considering a run for office after Harris became the Democratic nominee in August, with a shocking 78 percent of those surveyed not considering running, the same level as in June. The result of this year’s election can hardly have been encouraging.
What needs to be done then to keep women interested in politics? “We need to build community,” Cutraro said. “Tackle the many barriers, and stick together in this movement.”
“By lifting up women’s voices, celebrating every win, celebrating what it took even when it’s a loss, and showing they’re part of something bigger, we can keep the momentum going for real change.”
“To young women dreaming of a career in politics: keep going. This path isn’t easy, and setbacks are part of it, but your voice, perspective, and experience are needed now more than ever.”
Did Gender Play a Role in Kamala Harris’ Defeat?
By November 8, Harris looked to be on course to do worse in the Electoral College than Hillary Clinton in 2016.
The top three reasons voters gave for not supporting Harris were high inflation under the Biden administration, too many immigrants crossing the border, and that the vice president was too focused on cultural issues, according to an analysis by Blueprint, a Democratic research initiative.
The prospect of electing the first female president didn’t rank high as a motivator for voters, according to AP VoteCast. Only about one in 10 voters said the fact that Harris would be the first woman was the single most important factor for their vote.
“I really feel like the majority of Americans still aren’t ready for a woman. They are so short-sighted,” Denise Martin in Georgia said.
Trump voter Elizabeth Herbert, a retired homeschool teacher from Wake Forest, North Carolina said she would still like to see a woman president. She just didn’t embrace Harris.
“I don’t think she is the right woman,” she said.
Harris, for her part, bypassed the suffragist white worn by Clinton in 2016 and rarely spoke about the historic nature of her candidacy and potential to become the first Black woman to be elected president.
What’s Next?
Addressing how future campaigns involving female candidates could look different, Cutraro told Newsweek they will “need to get real.”
“Harris and Clinton’s campaigns showed us both progress and roadblocks,” she said. “We need to take a hard look at the results, face the tough truths, and adjust our strategies. By bringing more voices into the movement and staying flexible, we can build campaigns that showcase the full strength of women’s leadership.”
“This moment is about more than one election outcome,” she added. “We’ll make peace with the progress we have yet to achieve, and then get back to work.”
This article contains reporting by the Associated Press.
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