Source: WRAL
State Democrats capturing the legislature would mean big wins for key issues like protecting reproductive healthcare access, voting rights, funding for public schools and much more.
A win for Democrats in this year’s midterm elections would also mark a historic feat with women lawmakers outnumbering men in the state Senate. According to WRAL, it would be a first, based on the state’s General Assembly library records that date back to 1921.
“There are strong women who are running and challenging in these races,” stated Gov. Roy Cooper in a recent interview.
Out of the 50 seats in the state Senate, 16 women currently are members. Ten of the members are Democrats, and the other six are Republicans.
In this year’s midterm elections, key races across the state feature numerous Democrat-nominated women, including Sydney Batch, Valerie Jordan, Rachel Hunt, Val Applewhite, Marcia Morgan and Mary Wills Bode, just to name a few.
If Democrats secure 21 seats in this year’s midterm elections, 12 seats will be held by women.
The possibility of Democrats putting more women than men in a legislative chamber comes as issues, such as the future of abortion rights, are in jeopardy.
As Republican leaders push forth anti-abortion bills following the overturn of Roe v. Wade, reports across the U.S. have documented the surge of women registering to vote after the erasure of reproductive rights; with polls finding abortion rights as the main motivator for an increase of young women going to the ballot box this year.
The aforementioned state Democratic nominated candidates have all signaled to protect abortion access in North Carolina, as the state represents the last stronghold for reproductive health care access for millions across the southeast of the U.S.
