Post-Election Analysis Given at NCSL Women’s Voices ’96 Briefing

During the last election, candidates who listened to woment and actively incorporated their ideas into party platforms were the candidates who received women’s votes in record numbers, according to panelists at CPA’s Women’s Voices ’96 briefing at the National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL) meeting in December. Leading Republican pollster and American Viewpoint President Linda DiVall and Mary Beth Cahill, Executive Director of EMILY’S List, provided bi-partisan analysis of the 1996 election, and Texas State Representative Dawnna Dukes discussed how women’s votes impacted state-level electoral races. CPA Women’s Voices Director Anne Mosle connected the findings of CPA’s Women’s ’96 survey with November’s election results.

Rep.Dukes, a 1995 Flemming Fellow, pointed out that when President Clinton publicly supported issues such as reducing under-age smoking, improving education and expanding flex-time and family leaves, his poll numbers shot up and ultimately female voters responded. Dukes noted that while Dole beat Clinton overall in Texas, woment there voted for Clinton by a margin of 49 to 45 percent compared to men, who voted for Dole by a margin of 53 to 39 percent.

Presenters agreed that the 1996 elections signified that women’s opinions and ideas are not only affection election outcomes but molding the national agenda.