Women poised to break glass ceiling on Election Day
Men far outpace women when it comes to holding political office, but there are several female trailblazers on the verge of history in the 2014 midterm elections. The list begins with Republican Govs. Mary Fallin of Oklahoma, Nikki Haley of South Carolina and Susana Martinez of New Mexico. They were the first women elected governor of their respective states and each is leading statewide polling ahead of the Nov. 4 elections to win their second terms. Here are other women vying to break a glass ceiling in their states or districts.
Alma Adams
Democrat Alma Adams, a North Carolina state senator, is running for an open congressional seat over Republican Vince Coakley. More than 60% of the voters in North Carolina's 12th District are registered as Democrats. Adams is one of five new African Americans — all women — who are favored to win election to the U.S. House of Representatives. They include Democrats Brenda Lawrence in Michigan, Bonnie Watson Coleman in New Jersey, Stacey Plaskett in the Virgin Islands and Republican Mia Love. If Adams wins and is seated for the lame-duck session later this month, she would be the 100th woman serving in the 113th Congress.
Mary Burke
Mary Burke, a Democrat, is the first woman nominated by a major party to be governor of Wisconsin. The former executive at her family's Trek Bicycle Corp. is locked in a close battle with Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican often mentioned as a potential 2016 presidential candidate. Burke is a member of Madison's school board and served as the state's secretary of Commerce in Jim Doyle's administration.
Shelley Moore Capito
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, a member of Congress since 2001, is favored to defeat Natalie Tennant in West Virginia and succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller. West Virginia has never been represented by a woman in the U.S. Senate. Capito is the daughter of Arch Moore Jr., a former three-term governor. She is also the first Republican to represent West Virginia in Congress since 1983. Tennant, the secretary of State, is a former TV newscaster who made history in 1990 when she was selected as the first woman to serve as West Virginia University's mascot.
Debbie Dingell
Debbie Dingell is poised to become the first U.S. woman in Congress to succeed her husband while he is still alive. The former General Motors executive is running for the seat being vacated by John Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress. Since the 1930s, this part of Michigan has only been served by someone with the last name of Dingell. John Dingell Sr., the current congressman's father, was the first person elected to the newly created seat in 1932 and he was replaced by his son when he died in 1955.
Joni Ernst
Iowa has never elected a woman to Congress, but Republican Joni Ernst and Democrat Staci Appel are out to change that. Ernst is locked in a close contest against Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley for Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat. Ernst, an Iowa state senator, is also a lieutenant colonel in the Army National Guard and Iraq War veteran. Appel, a state senator and that chamber's former assistant majority leader, is running for Iowa's open 3rd Congressional District against Republican David Young.
Marilinda Garcia
Republicans have high hopes for Marilinda Garcia, who is challenging Democratic Rep. Ann Kuster in New Hampshire. Garcia is young (31) and could be the first Latina elected to Congress from New Hampshire. She won her first state House election in 2006 and was backed by Tea Party favorite Ted Cruz to win the GOP nomination. Kuster has the edge in 2nd District polling.
Gina Raimondo
History will be made in Rhode Island regardless of whether Democrat Gina Raimondo or Republican Allan Fung wins the governor's race. If Raimondo wins, she would be the first woman elected governor and the first Democrat to win the position in 20 years. She is currently state treasurer. Fung, mayor of Cranston, would be the state's first Asian-American governor. Democratic Gov. Lincoln Chafee did not seek re-election.