Women and minorities are shaking up US politics

World Today

A struggle for the future of America – and the Democratic party. Politicians are preparing for mid-term elections in November. And while some Democrats are only focused on reducing President Trump’s power, others are also looking to change the face of their own party. CGTN’s Jim Spellman reports.

Women and minorities have won a string of high-profile elections as they seek to redefine the Democratic Party.

Women currently make up about 20 percent of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and are governors in just six of the 50 states. But a record number of women ran for office in 2018, and so far, they are winning primaries at historic rates.

In the Massachusetts primary, Ayanna Pressley beat a 10-term incumbent Congressman. She is poised to become the first African American woman to represent the state in Congress.

Earlier this election cycle. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Latina candidate, beat a white male congressional incumbent in New York.

In Georgia, Stacey Abrams beat another female candidate in the primary and is now running to be the first woman African-American governor.

And in Michigan, the child of Palestinian immigrants is set to become the first female Muslim member of Congress.

Many minorities and women in the Democratic Party said President Trump’s controversial comments and polices have inspired them to run.

Trump’s former advisers said making the election about President Trump will help Republicans.

“If you make this a national referendum and nationalize this election on the success of President Trump’s program, it’s a clear winner. And I think the Democrats get crushed,” said Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser.

But many Democrats said a diverse set of candidates will help them win in November’s general elections.

In August Andrew Gillum won the Democratic primary in Florida and hopes to become the first African-American governor of the state.

“The way we’re going to be successful this November is again by giving voters a reason to turn out and vote for something and not just against. I think we’re also going to be wildly successful at getting more black voters, brown voters, young voters, poor voters, working class white voters to get out and to vote for us,” said Gillum.