New face of Democrats? Women, minorities win big in primaries

In Georgia, lawmaker Stacey Abrams became first black woman in country to hold a major party's nomination for...

WASHINGTON: Democratic voters have chosen African-American and Latina women as their candidates for governor in Georgia and Texas, historic wagers for a party embracing minorities and women ahead of November's pivotal mid-term elections.

As President Donald Trump's Republicans struggle to craft a strategy for defending their majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives, energized Democrats have taken a progressive tack in recent primary races, notably on Tuesday, when several minority candidates led the charge.

And with race and women's rights and empowerment emerging as flashpoints in the Trump era, the recent primary victories signal that such hot-button issues will remain at the fore come election day five months from now.



In Georgia, former state lawmaker Stacey Abrams became the first black woman in the country to hold a major party's nomination for governor, soundly defeating a Democratic rival who had courted moderates, independents and crossover Trump supporters.

"We are writing the next chapter of Georgia's future, where no one is unseen, no one is unheard and no one is uninspired," Abrams, seen as a rising star in the party, said in her victory speech.

Trump carried Georgia in 2016 by five points over Hillary Clinton, and Republicans control every statewide office.

But Democrats, emboldened by fresh grassroots energy and voter frustration with Trump, are angling for an upset in the southeastern state.

Texas saw history made on two fronts, as former Dallas sheriff Lupe Valdez became the first openly gay and first Latina gubernatorial candidate from either party in the Lone Star State.

Actor-turned-activist George Takei offered a snappy take on Valdez: "Trump's worst nightmare."

And if Gina Ortiz Jones, a former US Air Force intelligence officer and Iraq war veteran who prevailed in her Democratic primary, wins her Texas US House seat in November, she will become the first lesbian and first Filipina-American to represent Texas in Congress.

Adding to the slate of firsts, Paulette Jordan won the Democratic nomination for governor in Idaho. The state is unquestionably conservative, and her race is a longshot, but should Jordan win, she would become the first Native American governor in US history.

Other primary winners included a gun-control activist in Georgia whose son was shot to death at age 17, and a female political novice and former fighter pilot in Kentucky who defeated an incumbent mayor in their congressional primary.



"All of these outstanding nominees are harnessing the grassroots energy in their states and leading with Democratic values," Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez said in a statement.

The Republican reaction? Bring it on.

"You saw last night the progressive wing of the (Democratic) party continues to win," Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel told Fox Business Network Wednesday.

"What do they want? They want more government in your lives, they want you to take home less money in your paycheck," she added. "I don't think that's a winning strategy for the American people."

Analysts predict Democrats have a strong shot at regaining control of the US House, although the Cook Political Report says Republicans have seen a recent uptick in their overall chances of maintaining their majority.

Democrats would need to flip 24 seats to seize the chamber.

As more states hold primaries, the influence of women on the Democratic Party and its election chances has grown. Last week in Pennsylvania, a large state with no women in its 20-member congressional delegation, seven women won Democratic primaries.

Senator Tim Kaine, Clinton's 2016 running mate, said the latest results show Democrats are energized.

"But they also proved we're elevating needed voices into leadership," he tweeted Wednesday. "Proud to be a Democrat."

Their ultimate ballot box success has yet to play out. But strong female showings in 2018 may augur well for women seeking the presidency in 2020, possibly including US senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren.