Election 2006: WUFPAC Candidates Make History!

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 The Women Under Forty Political Action Committee declared the 2006 midterm elections a “landmark year” for young women seeking federal elective office. A record 7 women under forty won election to the House of Representatives.  A record 20 women under forty ran for federal office this year, with 13 triumphing in their primaries.  WUFPAC's winners are incumbents Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Cathy McMorris, Stephanie Herseth, and Linda Sanchez, and new Congresswomen Kathy Castor, Gabrielle Giffords, and Kirsten Gillibrand.  The most young women ever elected to the House previously was 5 candidates in 1998.

In Louisiana, Democrat Karen Carter garnered 22% of the vote on election day, and faced a runoff against incumbent William Jefferson in the 2^nd District on December 9th. Although Jefferson has been plagued by an ongoing federal corruption investigation, he won reelection, but Karen Carter ran a very strong race against him.  

WUFPAC President Susannah Shakow spoke to an excited group of WUFPAC supporters on election night: "In the few years that WUFPAC has been active, we have worked hard to encourage more young women to run for office, and we have strongly supported the young women running.  This year we can plainly see that our hard work is paying off.  We make history this election, with seven WUFPAC candidates entering Congress, more than have ever been elected before!  Let's hope that with the example of their leadership, more young women will accept the call to run for office!"

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WUFPAC's 2006 Congressional Election Results as of 12:00pm 12/11/2006

Arizona District 8
Gabrielle Giffords (D) 54% v. Randy Graf (R) 42%

California District 39
Linda Sanchez* (D) 66% v. James Andion (R) 34%

Florida District 11
Kathy Castor (D) 69% v. Eddie Adams (R) 31%

Florida District 20
Debbie Wasserman Schultz* (D) (100%) running unopposed

Illinois District 6
Tammy Duckworth (D) 49% v. Pete Roskam (R) 51%

Louisiana District 2
Karen Carter (D) 43% v. William Jefferson* (D) 57% 
(Regina Bartholomew (D) 1%, was eliminated from the race in the primary)

Minnesota District 5
Tammy Lee (Ind) 21% v. Keith Ellison (D) 55% v. Alan Fine (R) 21%

New York District 20
Kirsten Gillibrand (D) 53% v. John Sweeney* (R) 47%

Nevada District 3
Tessa Hafen (D) 47% v Jon Porter* (R) 48%

South Dakota At Large
Stephanie Herseth* (D) 70% v. Bruce Whalen (R) 28%

Washington District 5
Cathy McMorris* (R) 55% v Peter Goldmark (D) 45% 

Washington District 8
Darcy Burner (D) 49% v Dave Reichert* (R) 51% 

* = incumbent
Blue = Winner