Associate Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman

Associate Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman contributed an article to the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) Election Watch Project, entitled, “Is 2020 the Year of the Republican Woman? Women’s PAC support for Republican Women Candidates Suggests Otherwise.”

Women’s gains to Congress in the 2018 midterm elections were party specific. That year nearly three dozen new Democratic women, and just one Republican woman, were elected to the U.S. House. As Republican women’s membership in the House shrunk to 13, Representative Elise Stefanik (NY-21) promised to “play in primaries” to increase the number of Republican women running for Congress in 2020. Since then, much has been written about whether 2020 would be the year of the Republican woman as it had been for Democratic women in 2018. To be sure, the increased number of Republican women House candidates on the ballot this cycle bodes well for those within and outside of the party working to recruit and elect more Republican women. After all, women can’t win if they don’t run. Many of these candidates also hold credentials including distinguished military service, community activism, and previous officeholding that enhance their standing. A closer examination of the most competitive House elections along with existing campaign finance networks available to these women, however, reveals a more nuanced evaluation of Republican women running for Congress in 2020. While more Republican women are running for the House this year than in previous cycles, they are hampered by their status as challengers – further complicated for some by a late primary schedule – and the patchy campaign finance network available specifically to them to aid their fundraising efforts. Together, these challenges present significant roadblocks for Republican women candidates and the efforts to grow their ranks. Read more.

Associate Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman

Associate Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman commented on the battle for delegates in Virginia’s Super Tuesday Primary on WAMU 88.5.

Political scientist Rosalyn Cooperman at the University of Mary Washington said healthcare was a key issue for voters in the primary. “It’s an issue all the candidates have talked about,” she said. “Everything from Sanders’ Medicare for All to Biden talking about the Affordable Care Act, and maintaining protections for preexisting conditions.”

She added that defeating Trump was similarly top of mind.

“It’s not just an anti-Trump message. It’s the notion of getting back to an era where there was more predictability,” Cooperman said. Read more.

Associate Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman

Associate Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman was interviewed for an article in the Sunflower State Journal on a Women’s Republican PAC’s decision to get involved in a primary race between two female GOP candidates.

“It’s highly significant,” said Cooperman. “What is unusual about this move is that it came so early and it came in a race with other Republican women. That to me is the most noteworthy thing.” Read more. 

Associate Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman

Associate Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman commented on Kentucky Governor-Elect Andy Beshear’s decision to select for his transition team longtime supporters of his family’s political campaigns.

According to the article, “The most active and involved Democrats are oftentimes most likely to be giving money to support their candidate, said Rosalyn Cooperman, associate professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington.

‘This is intuitive,’ she said. ‘The electoral context is that Democrats – or any party – are strategic actors if they want to win.’

And money is critical to win in a high-profile, competitive race, Cooperman said.” Read more. 

Associate Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman

Associate Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman was recently interviewed for a story on WAMU on how even extremely well-funded campaigns lost in the Virginia General Assembly elections last week.

According to the story, “Virginia is one of only a few states to hold elections in off-off years, and both parties saw this year’s vote as a bellwether for the 2020 presidential race.  Virginia had already drawn national attention after Democrats shrank the majority in the House of Delegates in 2017 by flipping 15 seats, political scientist Rosalyn Cooperman at the University of Mary Washington noted.”

“‘You’ve immediately raised the stakes for the next election because Democrats came within a whisker of taking both the House of Delegates and the state Senate,’ Cooperman said. ‘You’re coming into an election cycle that’s going to raise the profile of these races.'” Read more.