International Desk:
Dhaka, Aug-24,
Taking over on short
notice for a scandal-plagued predecessor in the midst of the coronavirus
pandemic, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul began her tenure Tuesday with more than
enough challenges for a new administration.
She also began with an
historic opportunity: Hochul is the first woman to hold one of the most
prominent governorships in the U.S.
“New York as a whole has
been a tough place for women to break into the highest levels, because there is
very much a tight set of powerful gatekeepers,” said Debbie Walsh, director of
the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.
“And unfortunately —
even in 2021 — women are still seen, in effect, as newcomers,” she said.
Hochul, a Democrat,
became the ninth woman currently serving as a governor. That ties a record that
was set in 2004 and matched in 2007 and 2019, but it’s still well shy of gender
proportionality.
A century after women
gained the right to vote, 19 states still have never been led by a woman. That
includes some of the most populous states, such as California, Florida,
Pennsylvania and Illinois. Even if it succeeds, California’s recall election of
Gov. Gavin Newsom next month doesn’t appear likely to elevate a woman to the
state’s top job.
Hochul had served as
New York’s lieutenant governor until succeeding fellow Democrat Andrew Cuomo,
who resigned after a decade in office. Cuomo had faced a potential impeachment
battle after an attorney general’s investigation said he had sexually harassed
or inappropriately touched 11 women. Among other things, Cuomo also had faced a
legislative investigation into whether he misled the public last year about
COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes.
Hochul already has
announced she will seek a full four-year term in 2022.
Next year could be a
pivotal one for women running for governor. Democratic Gov. Kate Brown of
Oregon will be the only female incumbent barred from seeking re-election by
term limits. Six male governors also will be term-limited, opening a path to
office for fresh candidates from both parties.
In Arizona, where
Republican Gov. Doug Ducey can’t run again, the field already has several
candidates who are women, including Republican state Treasurer Kimberly Yee and
Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs. Arizona already holds the record for
the most women who have served as governor — four. Kansas has had three.
In Arkansas, which has
never had a woman serve as governor, a high-profile Republican primary pits
Attorney General Leslie Rutledge against Sarah Sanders, press secretary for
former President Donald Trump and daughter of former Gov. Mike Huckabee. The
incumbent, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, will be termed out.
In 2018, women’s
political advocates also thought they were primed for success with a record
number of candidates for governor. But they did not ultimately set a new record
for victories.
Women currently hold
18% of governors’ offices — significantly less than this year’s new records of
27% of U.S. congressional seats and 31% of state legislative seats. In
addition, Vice President Kamala Harris also became the first woman in that role
this year.
Part of the challenge
in electing women as governors is overcoming stereotypes of men as stronger,
more decisive leaders, Walsh said.
Another challenge is
deepening the pool of women willing to enter politics, said Wendy Doyle,
president and CEO of the Kansas City, Missouri-based nonprofit United WE.
The organization is
coordinating an effort to get more women appointed to positions on state, county
and city boards and commissions. It’s working with local officials in
California, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania Texas and
Washington. The idea is that some women appointed to positions eventually will
run for elected offices.
“It’s a long game,”
Doyle said. “But we’ve got to build the pipeline; we’ve got to build the
bench.”
End/Dct/Int/Sma/
