National NOW Times >> Winter 05-06 >> Article

NOW Activists Look Ahead to '06 Elections

By Linda Berg, Political Director

The 2006 elections offer NOW activists the opportunity to create change in our country. This could be the greatest opportunity in a decade to take back our country from those who, regardless of party, are complicit in the loss of our precious rights and liberties.The stakes for women are enormous and the consequences of failure so immense that it is crucial that we resolve to actively work during this election cycle to wrestle control from the right wing.

As of press time, all three branches of the government are in turmoil. The Vice President's Chief of Staff, "Scooter" Libby, has been indicted and the legal troubles for the executive branch continue; Tom Delay's indictment and Bill Frist's legal difficulties have cast a pall on the Republican leadership of the Congress; and George Bush was forced by extreme right-wing activists to retreat on the Supreme Court nomination of his crony, Harriet Miers. Gas prices are soaring, the first sky-high home-heating bills are due to hit our mailboxes and our nation sadly marked the deaths of more than 2,000 soldiers in Iraq. There has never been a more compelling time to change the direction of our country’s political leadership.

So here's the challenge. In 2006, the opportunity looms to change the majority party in Congress to one that at least purports to support women's rights. Women must exercise our voting power — women outvoted men in absolute numbers and in turnout rates in 2004 — and throw out those incumbents who challenge our right to equality.

Fortunately for women, most of our incumbent women's rights supporters in the Senate appear to be headed for re-election. However, we must carefully watch Maria Cantwell's race in Washington state and Debbie Stabenow in Michigan; both senators have potentially tough races. We are also watching with concern the open seat created by the retirement of Paul Sarbanes in Maryland, one of our longtime supporters.

The open seat in Vermont caused by Sen. Jeffords' retirement, however, presents a terrific opportunity to move our longtime friend, Bernie Sanders, into the Senate. Minnesota's open seat also presents a good opportunity to elect a progressive woman. And, of course, we must watch closely the votes of senators from both parties on the Supreme Court nominees. Women cannot support a senator who would confirm an anti-woman nominee to the nation's highest Court.

To change the House majority, the Democrats need to win back 15 seats. This change is possible in today's volatile political climate, but according to political experts, there are only 28 toss-up seats, of which 11 are already held by Democrats. The odds of the Democrats holding on to each of their toss up seats and then winning close to 90 percent of the Republican toss-up seats are slim. But from the point of view of women's right supporters, we've learned that the actual votes cast by incumbent candidates are far more important than the candidate's party or their campaign promises.

Now is the time to expand the number of congressional seats which can be in play by adding good challenger candidates to the field. Filing deadlines have not yet passed and there are many opponents of women's rights who sorely need to be challenged. And we need more challengers, both Democrats and Republicans, who are supportive of women's rights. It is not too late to change the playing field — just last month, New Mexico Attorney General Patsy Madrid entered the race to challenge right-winger Heather Wilson.

NOW PAC is committed to encouraging and supporting progressive women who enter the political pipeline at all levels of political office. With more women serving in different capacities, it will become easier to challenge our political opposition. In the meantime, we encourage women's rights activists to seriously consider throwing their hats in the ring and challenge those congressmen who stand in the way of our equality.