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Where are the women political candidates in Virginia?

Posted at 7:34 PM, Nov 14, 2012
and last updated 2012-11-15 07:42:09-05

RICHMOND, VA (WTVR) -- Virginia has produced notable names in politics in recent years - names like Warner, McDonnell, Kaine, and Cantor.

But none of the names are female.

In fact, Virginia has only elected one female candidate for statewide office in the Commonwealth's history -  Mary Sue Terry.

Terry served as Attorney General from 1986 to 1993.

Presently, every single Member of Congress representing Virginia in Washington is male.

In the General Assembly, only 18 of the 140 delegates and state senators are female.

Jeannemarie Davis, a Republican from Vienna, is hoping to change history - announcing her intention to seek the nomination for Lt. Governor in Richmond.

"Women have the same needs as men. They need a job and they need to provide for their family," Davis, whose husband is former Congressman Tom Davis, told CBS 6.

Mary Sue Terry says she is still shocked she is the only woman to win statewide office and wishes Davis the very best.

"While we are from different parties, I hope she finds the experience of running for statewide office as positive as I did," Terry said.

Richmond Delegate Jennifer McClellan, a Democrat, explained to CBS 6 why there is a lack of women candidates for statewide office. 

"A lot of women need to be asked to run - men do not necessarily need to be asked," McClellan said.

McClellan also said women tend to enter politics late in life, making it harder to build a coalition over time to one day announce a bid for state wide office.