Avengers. PerSisters. The pink wave. And even badasses. These terms have been used to refer to the unprecedented number of female candidates who ran for elected office in the United States in 2018. Barbara Burrell explores this phenomenon--in the context of women's candidacies for election to the US House of Representatives--discussing who the women were, why they chose to run, the nature of their campaigns, and their legacy as reflected in the 2020 elections. Not least, her findings clearly challenge traditional perspectives on women's quests for political leadership. CONTENTS: The Women of 2018.

Gender in the Making of the 2018 Elections. Who Were the Candidates? Why Did They Run? Media Messaging on the Campaign Trail. The Challenges of Fundraising. Becoming Representatives. From 2018 to 2020, and Beyond.