Politics

NYT Says ‘Banner Year’ For Women Doesn’t Include Republicans. Here Are 6 Shattered Glass Ceilings They Missed

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Virginia Kruta Associate Editor
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The New York Times published an article claiming that “Republican women” were not a part of the “banner year for female candidates” in the 2018 elections — but they missed at least six glass ceilings, shattered handily by female Republican candidates in six different states.

The NYT piece, titled “Banner Year For Female Candidates Doesn’t Extend To Republican Women,” appeared to focus solely on the numbers — and it is true that in January of 2019, Democrats will send more women (at least 105) to Capitol Hill than Republicans (at least 19).

But it left out entirely a few key accomplishments achieved by Republican women.

Marsha Blackburn

Republican National Convention Committee on Resolutions Co-Chairman U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) addresses delegates during the second session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, August 28, 2012. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Republican National Convention Committee on Resolutions Co-Chairman U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) addresses delegates during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, August 28, 2012. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn defeated Phil Bredesen, the popular former governor of Tennessee, to become the first female senator to represent the Volunteer State.

Blackburn was endorsed by President Donald Trump, who campaigned with and for her on several occasions. Bredesen, who received a rare endorsement from singer Taylor Swift, was plagued at the end of his campaign by an undercover video released by Project Veritas.

Kay Ivey

Lt Governor Kay Ivey waits to be sworn in shortly after Alabama Governor Robert Bentley announced his resignation amid impeachment proceedings on accusations stemming from his relationship with a former aide in Montgomery, Alabama, U.S., April 10, 2017. REUTERS/Marvin Gentry

Lt Governor Kay Ivey waits to be sworn in shortly after Alabama Governor Robert Bentley announced his resignation amid impeachment proceedings on accusations stemming from his relationship with a former aide in Montgomery, Alabama, U.S., April 10, 2017. REUTERS/Marvin Gentry

Kay Ivey became the first woman to be elected governor in the state of Alabama. Ivey was elected as the state’s lieutenant governor in 2010 and served in that capacity from 2011–2017.

She was sworn in to take the place of resigning Gov. Robert Bentley in April of 2017 and was elected in her own right on Nov. 6.

Kim Reynolds

Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks to supporters of U.S. Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney at Hotel Fort Des Moines in Des Moines, Iowa May 15, 2012. REUTERS/Brian C. Frank

Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks to supporters of U.S. Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney at Hotel Fort Des Moines in Des Moines, Iowa May 15, 2012. REUTERS/Brian C. Frank

Kim Reynolds, who also served the remainder of her predecessor’s term as governor — Terry Branstad was appointed by the Trump administration to serve as ambassador to China — became the first woman to be elected governor in the state of Iowa.

Prior to assuming the role of governor in 2017, Reynolds had served as the state’s lieutenant governor since 2011. (RELATED: China Can’t Make Up Its Mind On Trump)

Kristi Noem

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 14: U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) speaks during a news briefing after a House Republican Conference meeting January 14, 2014 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Congressional negotiators have reached to an agreement of a $1.1 trillion spending bill to avoid another government shutdown when the current funding ends tomorrow. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 14: U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) speaks during a news briefing after a House Republican Conference meeting January 14, 2014 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Congressional negotiators have reached to an agreement of a $1.1 trillion spending bill to avoid another government shutdown when the current funding ends tomorrow. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Kristi Noem, who previously served as a congresswoman from her home state of South Dakota, was elected its first female governor. Noem was able to hold off a tough challenge from state Sen. Billie Sutton, who campaigned on a moderate pro-second amendment and anti-abortion platform.

“If Billie believed everything that he said in this campaign, he’d be a Republican,” Noem joked about her opponent.

Jeanette Nuñez

Jeanette Nunez attends an event with Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis, at Hillsborough Victory Office on November 2, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. DeSantis is running against Democratic challenger Andrew Gillum to be the next Florida governor. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Jeanette Nunez attends an event with Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis, at Hillsborough Victory Office on November 2, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Jeanette Nuñez was the running mate to embattled Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis — whose declared victory is still being contested and subject to a recount. After Tuesday’s election, Nuñez didn’t just become Florida’s first Latina lieutenant governor — she also became the highest-ranking Hispanic woman in Florida state history. (RELATED: Report: Palm Beach Recount Is Missing A ‘Substantial’ Number Of Votes)

Janice McGeachin

Janice McGeachin (pronounced “mc-gee-in”) was elected last Tuesday to be the first female lieutenant governor from the state of Idaho.

From 2002–2012, McGeachin served in the Idaho State House, representing the 32nd district. She did not seek re-election in 2012 but served as a delegate for President Donald Trump in the 2016 election.

Honorable mention: Young Kim

First time Republican candidate for US Congress Young Kim, 55, poses for a portrait at her campaign office in Yorba Linda, California, October 6, 2018. - Kim, who immigrated to the US from her birth country of South Korea in 1975, would be the first Korean-American woman elected to the US House of Representatives if she defeats her Democratic opponent Gil Cisneros in the Midterm elections race for the open seat in California's 39th Congressional District which includes parts of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

First time Republican candidate for US Congress Young Kim, 55, poses for a portrait at her campaign office in Yorba Linda, California, October 6, 2018. – Kim, who immigrated to the US from her birth country of South Korea in 1975, would be the first Korean-American woman elected to the US House of Representatives if she defeats her Democratic opponent Gil Cisneros in the Midterm elections race for the open seat in California’s 39th Congressional District which includes parts of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

If California Republican candidate Young Kim is able to hold on to her slim lead, she will become the first Korean-American woman to serve in Congress.

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