California Groundbreakers

There is an unprecedented surge of first-time female candidates, running for political office nationwide in Election Year 2018. But here in California, the bluest state of them all, women candidates are still hitting a wall. Women account for only 26 of the 120 state legislators -- and they actually lost seats in the past two elections. In a round of caucus meetings back in January, Democratic Party activists in three competitive Southern California House races overlooked EMILY’s List-endorsed candidates and threw their support, by wide margins, to men. Even after the #MeToo movement, female candidates in California are still forced to contend with lots of disadvantages — fewer political connections, competitors with higher profiles, a lack of desire for bare-knuckle politics, and supporters unaccustomed to writing women large checks. But the 2016 election has energized women in unprecedented numbers to step up to run - what will the results be in 2018? We met at Arcade Underground in Old Sacramento to