(Headline USA) Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., blamed sexism for her primary election loss to fellow Democrat congressman Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., this week.
The heated primary race was the result of redistricting, which changed the 12th congressional district to include both Nadler’s and Maloney’s constituents. Maloney lost by 30 points despite serving in Congress since 1993.
In her concession speech, she said she was “proud to have followed in the footsteps and stand on the shoulders of the strong New York women who opened doors and took on the tough battles,” citing Democrats Shirley Chisholm, Bella Abzug and Geraldine Ferraro.
“These heroic women fought sexist systems and misogyny that continues today – as we know from my campaign,” Maloney added. “I’m really sad that we no longer have a woman representing Manhattan in Congress.”
It has been the joy of my life and a privilege to work for you.
I may not be in Congress, but I will never stop fighting for women and good in this world. I promise you that.
#NY12 pic.twitter.com/mo8ZxMbY5x— Carolyn B. Maloney (@CarolynBMaloney) August 24, 2022
Nadler, however, ignored the veiled shot.
“I think the voters made their voices heard tonight,” Nadler told supporters. “This place is my home. Why would I want to be anyplace else?”
Maloney isn’t the first Democrat female politician to blame her loss on “misogyny.” In 2016, after losing to former President Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton made the same accusation, claiming that the American public didn’t vote for her because they couldn’t stand the thought of a female president.
“Any of you who’ve read my book about ‘what happened’ know that I think misogyny and sexism was part of that campaign—it was one of the contributing factors,” Clinton said. “Some of it was old-fashioned sexism and the refusal to accept the equality of women, and certainly the equality of women’s leadership.”
