Female Candidates in MA Smash the Glass Ceiling

Thursday, November 06, 2014

Nicholas Handy, GoLocalWorcester Reporter

Healey became the first openly gay AG in the nation

While many throughout the nation are talking about the Senate and the House shifting to Republican control, a new trend emerged in Massachusetts on Election Day: women are becoming much more prevalent in state government.

Four of the state’s top six positions are now filled by women – Attorney General, State Auditor, Treasurer, and Lt. Governor – and a variety of local races in Central Massachusetts went to women as well.

“There were a lot of great victories for women in Massachusetts on Election Day,” said Samantha Washburn-Baronie, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus. “This is a very promising trend for both women hoping to run for office and for female voters in the state. We are really excited about the results but still acknowledge that there is a lot more that can be done to bring more women to try to run for office.”

Washburn-Baronie is not sure whether or not the glass ceiling has been smashed for women in politics yet, but acknowledges that things are shaping up for women. In an effort to continue the trend, the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus is working to set up workshops to give women the tools and motivation to run for office.

A New Trend or a Coincidence?

While it has been long assumed that Massachusetts has something against electing women to office, not everyone feels that way, instead believing that women can represent change in the political landscape.

According to Robert Boatright, Associate Professor at Department of Political Science at Clark University, the amount of women elected to office this year is more coincidental than anything else.

Coakley may not have won, but her message and closeness in the polls may inspire more women to run

“I know that many people believe that many feel that Massachusetts has been hostile toward women in politics but literature shows that women actually have an advantage in Massachusetts politics,” said Boatright. “People often look to women as candidates that can represent change, which is why women often outperform men when they run for office.”

A New Regime

As votes were coming in on Election Day, many were excited at the prospect of having more women elected to office, noting that if Coakley was victorious, there would be a large delegation of women in the Commonwealth’s top political seats.

Although Coakley ended up losing – albeit by a small margin – Baker brought Karyn Polito to Beacon Hill with him as his running mate, ensuring that the new regime in Massachusetts will feature a lot more women.

“This has the potential for some huge news; if Coakley can win then almost all constitutions offices (excluding Lt Governor) will be female,” said Erin O’Brien, Associate Professor of Political Science at UMass Boston as the votes began to pour in on Election Day. “Even if Coakley does not win, a Baker win would still see Karyn Polito as Lt. Governor.”