To every person who has ever said, "My vote doesn't matter," please see: Alabama (opens in new tab) and Virginia (opens in new tab), elections, 2017. The stunning victories that occurred at the end of last year gave hope to feminists across the country, horrified at the fact that extreme conservatives have dominated the last few elections. They proved the influence that citizens can have if they remain engaged with local politics and determined to create change.
Which is why 2018's mid-term elections are crucial. Who wins in the upcoming primaries (they start tomorrow, March 6, in Texas!) and gets onto the ballot for November will impact the success of movements like #MeToo, #TimesUp, #NeverAgain, and #BlackLivesMatter.
But there's one issue that weaves its way into all movements: reproductive health. Vice President Mike Pence recently said that he believes abortion will end “in our time.” Not if we have anything to say about it. Access to health screenings, contraception, abortion, and hormone therapy doesn't just affect the individual woman, but affects everything up the chain—mental health, education, the economy, and much more. If you know nothing else about your elected officials, know this: Where do they stand on reproductive rights?
Below, a list of all United States Senate primary candidates who are pro-choice. You're welcome.
Sema Hernandez (opens in new tab)
Edward Kimbrough (opens in new tab)
Beto O'Rourke (opens in new tab)
No openly pro-choice candidates. Encourage someone you respect to run—She Should Run (opens in new tab) can help.
Sherrod Brown (opens in new tab)
No openly pro-choice candidates. Encourage someone you respect to run—She Should Run (opens in new tab) can help.
Theresa Wright (opens in new tab)
Jane Raybould (opens in new tab)
Dianne Feinstein (opens in new tab)
Pat Harris (opens in new tab)
David Hildebrand (opens in new tab)
No openly pro-choice candidates. Encourage someone you respect to run—She Should Run (opens in new tab) can help.
Jon Tester (opens in new tab)
Sarah Dean (opens in new tab)
Bob Menendez (opens in new tab)
Lisa McCormick (opens in new tab)
Martin Heinrich (opens in new tab)
Zak Ringelstein (opens in new tab)
Angus King (opens in new tab)
Bobby Mahendra (opens in new tab)
Jacky Rosen (opens in new tab)
Dustin David Peyer (opens in new tab)
Tim Kaine (opens in new tab)
Ben Cardin (opens in new tab)
Mitchell Vice (opens in new tab)
Phil Bredesen (opens in new tab)
Debbie Stabenow (opens in new tab)
Claire McCaskill (opens in new tab)
Angelica Earl (opens in new tab)
Maria Cantwell (opens in new tab)
Mazie Hirono (opens in new tab)
Chris Murphy (opens in new tab)
Amy Klobuchar (opens in new tab)
Bernie Sanders (opens in new tab)
Brad Peacock (opens in new tab)
Tammy Baldwin (opens in new tab)
No openly pro-choice candidates. Encourage someone you respect to run—She Should Run (opens in new tab) can help.
Deedra Abboud (opens in new tab)
Chris Russell (opens in new tab)
Kyrsten Sinema (opens in new tab)
Bill Nelson (opens in new tab)
Tamika Lyles (opens in new tab)
Elizabeth Warren (opens in new tab)
Tom Carper (opens in new tab)
Kerri Evelyn Harris (opens in new tab)
Kirsten Gillibrand (opens in new tab)
Scott Noren (opens in new tab)
Sheldon Whitehouse (opens in new tab)
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives will be up for re-election this November—but we thought it might overwhelm you to list all of them here. To learn more about the candidates running in your state, go to Ballotpedia (opens in new tab), click “House of Representatives,” and find your state. Emily's List (opens in new tab), a political action committee that aims to help elect pro-choice Democratic female candidates, has a list of candidates they recommend too.
From explainers to essays, cheat sheets to candidate analysis, we're breaking down exactly what you need to know about this year's midterms. Visit Marie Claire's Midterms Guide (opens in new tab)for more.
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