All we want for the holidays this year … is for our community to unplug. (And to not feel one ounce of guilt about it.) Only then will we be ready to fight. That’s why we’re coming to you a little early with the final Insider of 2024. Here are a few things you need to know before logging off:
US Senate: Something to Celebrate
The women of the Senate are our bright spot this year, and they’re getting to work fast—prepping tough questions for Trump’s cabinet nominees, pushing back on some of his cruelest policy objectives, and trying to protect as many Democratic policy victories as possible before Republicans take control of government.
The boldest effort is coming from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who is pushing President Biden to direct the national archivist to publish the ERA as the 28th Amendment to the US Constitution. And ICYMI on our December call, Sen. Gillibrand is likely to be the next DSCC chair, giving her huge influence over Democrats’ strategy to take back the Senate in 2026.
🗓️ Special Event: Brunch Celebration for the Women of the Senate
The next Congress will be sworn in on Friday, January 3. Please join us as we celebrate the new and returning women Senators, including Angela Alsobrooks, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Elissa Slotkin, Tammy Baldwin, and Jacky Rosen. Remember that the 2024 cycle started with us defending 10 Democratic women—and we start the new Congress with the identical number of Senate women Democrats. We’ll take it.
- Saturday, January 4 at 10:30 AM
- Fig & Olive | Washington, DC
📰Analysis & News
Scoop: Gillibrand expected to chair DSCC [Axios]
Gillibrand Presses Biden to Amend the Constitution to Enshrine Sex Equality [NYT]
Duckworth rips into Hegseth: ‘He is unqualified for the position’ [Politico]
What We Talk About When We Talk About Tulsi Gabbard [Elissa Slotkin, Puck]
🎙️ How Senate Dems Can Fight feat Sen. Tammy Baldwin [Crooked Media]
🎥 Senator Jacky Rosen talks about the impacts of mass deportation on Nevada [2News NV]
Six Things We Learned From the 2024 Senate Elections [Cook Political Report]
US House: Both Parties Fail to Elevate Women
With Republicans in control, it’s not too shocking that for the first time in two decades, no woman will chair one of the House’s 17 standing committees. What’s more surprising is that Democrats have chosen only five women as ranking members on those same 17 committees, and only one—Rep. Angie Craig, MN-2, Agriculture—is under the age of 70. Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, 35, made a much-publicized bid to be the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee but was ultimately defeated by Rep. Gerry Connolly, 74.
We’re not trying to sound ageist, but after an election during which the voters on both sides of the aisle were more diverse and seemed to respond to a more casual, personal style of communication, you’d think both parties would be eager to elevate at least a few members who reflect that trend.
📰 Analysis & News
AOC defeated by Connolly in battle for Oversight role [Axios]
This Ohio-Hating Michigan Democrat Has Thoughts on Why Her Party Lost [NYT]
Democrat Susan Wild reflects on 2024 loss [PA Capital-Star]
No women will lead House committees for first time in 2 decades [ABC News]
Has the number of women in Congress hit a ceiling? [ABC News]
CA produced a female House speaker and VP. So why are women losing ground? [LA Times]
Statue of first woman state senator, elected in Utah, unveiled at U.S. Capitol [Salt Lake Tribune]
2024 Brings Minimal Changes to the Demographic Makeup of the House [Cook Political Report]
State & Local: Not Just Govs in 2025
We’re already preparing to support Mikie Sherrill (NJ) and Abigail Spanberger (VA) as they run in next year’s two most high-profile governor’s races. But there will likely be dozens of other critically important down-ballot races, including:
Supreme Courts
- Wisconsin: Dane County Judge Susan Crawford is running in an April 1 special election to fill the seat being vacated by liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley. Liberals have a 4-3 majority.
- Pennsylvania: Three liberal justices are up for retention elections next year, including Justice Christine Donohue. Liberals have a 5-2 majority.
Major City Mayoral
Woman-held seat
- Atlanta: Democratic male incumbent, no primary challengers yet
- New York: Democratic male incumbent, likely to face a primary challenge
- Miami: Republican male incumbent retiring, flip opportunity
- St. Louis: Incumbent Democrat Tishaura Jones is running for re-election
- Boston: Incumbent Democrat Michelle Wu is running for re-election
- Minneapolis: Democratic male incumbent, already faces a primary challenge
- Detroit: Democratic male incumbent retiring, open field
- New Orleans: Incumbent Democrat LaToya Cantrell is term limited
- Pittsburgh: Democratic male incumbent, already faces a primary challenge
📰Analysis & News:
Consequential State Elections to Watch In 2025 [Democracy Docket]
Uncertainty Abounds in Primaries for New Jersey Governorship [Cook Political Report]
Both Parties To Avoid Primaries; Virginia Governor Begins in Toss Up [Cook Political Report]
Endorsements in the 2025 New York City mayoral race [City & State NY]
Mary Sheffield kicks off campaign for Detroit mayor [Bridge Detroit]
Minneapolis’ 2025 mayoral election takes shape [Axios Twin Cities]
National & Women: Trump Admin Picks are Trolling Us
The basket of deplorables that is the future Trump Administration keeps getting fuller—and more alarming. It’s hard to keep track of who to worry about, but the candidates who could have the biggest impact on women’s health and freedom are:
- Pam Bondi, Attorney General: As Florida AG, she challenged the ACA’s contraceptive mandate and defended the state’s deadly abortion ban.
- Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense: He has been accused of abuse by multiple women, including his own mother, and opposes letting women and LGBTQ people serve.
- Kash Patel, Director of the FBI: A likely J. Edgar Hoover on steroids, he’ll have immense power to turn the eye of law enforcement on women and their healthcare providers.
- Robert F. Kennedy, Secretary of Health & Human Services: His conspiracy beliefs could explode the rate of childhood illnesses and endanger contraceptive and gender-affirming care access. Plus he’s apparently taking personnel advice from the uber-viral online misogynist Jordan Peterson.
It almost feels like trolling that Trump’s cabinet is currently set to be one-third women, and he’s appointed the first-ever female chief of staff.
🔖 Bookmark: Tracking Trump’s Cabinet and Staff Nominations [NYT]
📰 Analysis & News:
Trump’s new coalition puts female nominees at forefront [The Hill]
The World’s Most Powerful Women 2024 [Forbes]
Kamala Harris grapples with her future in a wounded Democratic Party [Washington Post]
How Alarmed Harris Staffers Went Rogue to Reach Black and Latino Voters [NYT]
Kamala Harris’ digital chief on Democrats ‘losing hold of culture’ [Semafor]
What happens when climate denialism and misogyny intersect? [The 19th News]
So as not to end the final Insider of the year on a negative note, we remain hopeful and optimistic about how we at EWA and WomenCount can continue to have an impact in the months ahead. We leave you with these brief clips from Sen.-elect Angela Alsobrooks and Sens. Tammy Baldwin and Kirsten Gillibrand on recent EWA-hosted zooms.
Our work matters, and as we have been reminded: “Hard work is good work. Hard work is joyful work.”
Happy Holidays from all of us