Women in the running: Number of female candidates for Va. House has jumped

‘Trump effect’ is pushing female candidates to come forward in record numbers. Of the 61 women running for office in the Virginia House primaries, 12 are Democratic incumbents and four are Republican incumbents.

Many Virginia incumbents go years without challengers, and as districts have become more polarized, Democrats have sometimes struggled to field challengers in very red parts of the state. Not this year, though: All but 16 House races feature candidates from both parties, and women account for more than half of all challengers seeking seats held by Republicans.