Massachusetts has a reputation as progressive “Blue” but when you peek behind the cobalt façade it's more of a Puritan Purple when it comes to women.
Yesterday MA actually took a step forward by electing a second woman to the US House during a sitting congress. Katherine Clark is now representing the 5th Congressional District, becoming only the fifth woman from this commonwealth to hold the title Congresswoman (as part of a body known as congressmen.)
MA has a poor track record when it comes to electing women to the US house and senate:
Massachusetts
MA ROGERS, Edith Nourse
69th -86th (1925-1960) House (she died while still serving)
MA HECKLER, Margaret M.
90th- 97th (1967-1983) House
MA HICKS, Louise Day
92nd (1971-1973) House
MA TSONGAS, Nicola S. (Niki)
110th (2007-2014) House
MA WARREN, Elizabeth
113th (2013-2015) Senate
(Note the large gaps of years between the election of each new congresswoman – except in the late 60’s to early 70’s. Elizabeth Warren is the first woman to be elected as a US Senator in MA.) Information from Women in Congress
Clark joins Niki Tsongas - who became the first MA woman elected to Congress in over 25 years when she won a special election in 2007. This is the first time since Louise Day Hicks' single two year term from 1971-1973 that more than one woman will represent MA in the US House of Representatives - two of nine, while MA population is 51.5%
women.
In this New England state our history of electing women to any office is embarrassing. According to Rutger's Center for American Women and Politics we are now at the highest percentage we seem to be able to reach - 26% women - in our state legislature and only six women have served in state-wide offices overall.
Yesterday’s special election turnout has now been declared the lowest turnout for any MA congressional election. Democratic candidate Clark won the election by 66% beating Republican Frank Addivinola and two other Independent candidates. The seat was left open when Ed Markey won the election for the US Senate left open when John Kerry was appointed as Secretary of State .... hmmm .... to replace Hillary Clinton.
What is the message here? Both Tsongas and Clark won these seats in special elections. Is that significant? Are the percentages low because women just aren’t running in general elections? How do we change this? Will we ever see a government that is more representative of the population? Will someone please add Puritan Purple to the color wheel?