that the economy has to contend with. i imagine we will get to them in a moment. things like demographic shift, the impact of technology for the jobless underclass, concerns around productivity and debt and income inequality. something in my phd was never discussed and now it is the top three issues on the policy agenda. , structuralng-term problems and yet the people who are charged with overseeing the regulatory and quality environment -- politicians, are very short term. sunday nightrwords at 9 p.m. on the tv. -- on book tv. >> washington journal continues. host: joining us now from west lafayette university is nadya brown. here to talk to us about women and minority candidates this

year and a campaign 2018 cycle. thank you for joining us. let me start with a piece that you wrote the headline of which says midterm elections could be a tipping point for women and minority candidates. what are you writing? guest: i'm talking about the pink wave we are saying, which is a sequel to the 1992 europe the woman where there are more women and minority women running in this midterm election. host: what are the reasons for an increase in female and minority female candidates? guest: a lot of it is a referendum on donald trump. 80% of the women that we are seeing running this time our democrat. an overwhelming majority of the new people running our emma kratz and they are doing so in response to some of donald trump's policies. particularly toward women and children. the state of the country is being more divided than united

-- then perceived to be united. some of it is a referendum on donald trump and others are a change in climate. women are responding to the me too movement and you are seeing this and society at large and also in politics. and you have a president that openly brags about sexual harassment and sexual assault by grabbing women. women are saying they're not taking this anymore and they are going to run for office. host: how are they doing so far this year in this cycle? the women candidates, the minority women candidates? guest: they are doing good relative to men. i say relative, it is important to know that men are still outpacing women. we see an uptick in all candidates. women are faring better, but men are also faring well too. jobsomen are doing better

relative to men, even though there have been more than that sought office, they have lost were primaries and women have. all that said, women have come out winning more primaries, even with the uptick of men that are seeking election as well. women have one more primaries -- have won more primaries and the men. host: we want to invite viewers to call in. call (202) 748-8001, democrats call (202) 748-8000 and independents call (202) 748-8002. nadia is also author of a book called sisters and the statehouse. tell us briefly about this book and what you are writing about. host: in that book i wanted to investigate the policy priorities of black women.

i did so out of response to the black womendirth of elected officials. local scientists don't see much use in looking at the variation. most of them are democrat, boating the same way. but what i show, is that they are not a monolith. they bring different calculus to bear how they vote. they might arrive at the same position but they do so from a variety of reasons. most of them are tied to identity that is. motherhood, nationality, ethnicity, in terms of class, or sexual orientation. these identities are just as salient for people who have dominant group identities and marginalized group identities. it is important to pay attention to those intersectional identities that make a play into people's politics and there understanding.

host: 2018 has officially a reckon -- a record number of nominees, at least 183. professor brown, who are some of the more interesting candidates out there right now when you are talking about the milk candidates and -- about female candidates and minority candidates? names, the first stacey abrams, running for governor of georgia would be the first black woman to be governor in the history of the united states. and it horse alexandria is our upset and incumbent who was widely favored to replace nancy pelosi. the two women have run distinctly different campaigns. at the heart of it it is taking a referendum saying i am one of you and i can represent you in a district that sometimes doesn't

look like me or often times does, but i can do so in ways that are more authentic to the issues and interests of the people. give me a chance. as yourpresent you elected official. that message, to me, is one that ,arkens back to populist days but it is minority women raising the flag and saying we are the best candidates to do that. they are qualified. they have great messages. they are people that the popular want to support. host: we have carl, first call from miami, florida. caller: hello. good morning. question, contact with african-american women in congress to back up her agenda? what is she doing in regards to that? guest: sure. my research primarily focuses on candidates and those in state

and local offices. i don't do as much work with congress. the to thatk direct in terms of my own research, but i can point you in the direction of others that you research on african-american women and minority women elected officials in congress. but that is not my research. are the unique challenges of female and minority female candidates and running office at the federal level? at the statee see and local office. it is really being marginalized or lord by parties. -- ignored by parties. are notl parties recruiting minority women as much as they should. they are also not supporting them once they get into the pool. the candidates really have to prove they are almost 99% going to be that winner of that election before the party comes in and tries to give support. whether that is through monetary

donations, name recognition, helping out with other events. party has been a huge stymieing block for women of color. the point you to the work of university.rutgers the lack of candidacy of women in color. s that arere are pac' starting every year and every month that are focused on women of color. up,black women pac, glow recent political action committees to fill the vacuum that have been left for minority women. they are doing it themselves and they are often run by other women of color. host: robert calling from brooklyn, new york. caller: hello. me that the democratic party bolstered by

the women's movement have made the elections about women assault issues and nothing else. man, i felt i am under assault constantly by this type of dialogue. it is taking me out of the democratic party although i have every issue in my mind siding with the democrats. guest: sure. robert, i think you raise an excellent point. i want to bring you back to an old lack feminist adage, all these issues are women's issues. all these women's issues our family issues and humanity issues. analysis ofquick the issues that women are running on in 2008, the first is health care. the second is gun control. these are things that impact

communities, the impact people of all genders. framing them as women's issues often times are a way to bring people into this big tent collective to understand they wayspecific issues that politics hurt or harm individuals. the also have to recognize the universality of these issues. health care is something that is a basic human need. when women, and particularly women of color are talking about health care they're not doing so only trying to provide health care for women of color and their families. they're trying to think about how does health care impact our communities? our nation? our state? how does having strong workers and others in the populace impact policymaking? i would push you to think about

how these issues impact you as a man but also a member of a community? host: we're talking with nadia brown and associate professor at purdue university. out at west lafayette indiana. we are talking about 2018 candidates, specifically female candidates, women candidates, and minority candidates. we found a poll think most runnings say more women is a good thing as hope for a fee no president grows. we have this piece of sound from senator kamala harris who talked about this. >> folks who helped held the democratic party and have been the back of of the democratic party have not always been given equal voice in the democratic party and we need to deal with that. [applause]

we need to deal with that. and i will go on with that point, if i may. we have all heard how critical black women were two doug jones's victory. but that did not just magically happen. it happened because black women have been putting in the work. going door to door, organizing even when the cameras were august elsewhere. -- when the cameras were focused elsewhere. it is time to respect that leadership. it is time we addressed the issues that they uniquely face. such is the fact that black women are three to four times because of ao die pregnancy than white women. let's deal with that. let's be aware of that and deal with that. and the truth is, we shouldn't just be thinking -- thanking

women of color for electing progressive leaders. in 2018, we should be elect inc. of color as those leaders. [applause] reflections there on what senator harris had to say? was my next phase of research. the idea that thinking lack three in to doug jones alabama or crediting black women who voted for barack obama and places that they are a magical neighbor. workingnd the scenes, these women, they are raising the money and doorknocking and they are really putting in the work. the party leadership says thank you and that's it. the party needs to get kind black women and all women of color. -- letlly to have them

them have a seat at the table. it is not just enough to support the candidates but to put them in leadership positions within the party. it is also important to have them shaped the party's agenda. the policies and political preferences the agenda should reflect. again, i am 100% behind senator kamala harris, i think her messages in the right place. i also want to bring us back to someone who said this who was less popular. donna edwards says this after she lost in the maryland primary to replace another woman senator who had tipped down. donna edwards was faced with ridicule, resentment, and was shunned when she made the same accusations. not only, perhaps two years ago. the time has changed. but i am not as certain or as

optimistic to think that these will not the the pan calls and two years later we will be looking around saying what happened to that? as a gone far enough or played itself out? host: dr. calls. liz has been waiting. caller: hello. very happy to have the guest on. i think we need a lot more women at all levels of government. , to date most women who , thep in elected office majority are white but they are also upper middle class to wealthy women or women who ensure it seats because their husband passed away while he was in the seat or their father has a background in politics. it takes extra for a woman to even be considered for a position. i do agree with her on both lack

women and lower-class white women, economically better at the working classes and the poor. we need their views at the table. all of them. elite ofneed just the america sitting down to decide policies for the nation. i wish her well with her group. 1992 years is not a thehe woman, where after situation with the supreme court justice, everybody was making a big thing of it, but in the end it go anywhere. we need to build steady progress, not one year where we elect to some women and then 20 years we don't. thank you. host: think you for calling. guest: i think that was a wonderful comment. not just as she agreed with what i said, but i think she brought

up some points that we should pay attention to. not only is congress overwhelmingly white and male but it is also upper class. best when there are people from different backgrounds that have different identities and experiences. they're able to attack a problem and put forth solutions that can readily address the needs of people differently situated. you cannot do that if congress soany governor body looks skewed to look like one group of people or to address the interests of another group of people. that is the first thing. she gives me hope that this ofht not be just a rehash 1992. i think we're building upon 1992. if we recall, what led women to the stage in 1992 was accusations of sexual harassment. clarence thomas had sexually harassed anita hill.

forward now to 2018, one of the largest issues we are seeing is sexual harassment and misconduct. me too movement has the same type of -- the same lineage of 1992. it cannot lost on us that it was a black woman who started the movement and the phrase me too to call attention to the sexual harassment. what we see is not only this lineage or legacy of women being mobilized by sexual harassment but it is playing out today. i'm given hope and optimism because i think we are seeing a change in culture. in 1992, sexual harassment and misconduct was not talked about. there were federal laws and policies not in place. now we have some. they're not great, but we are moving into a direction. i am optimistic and hopeful that this is not a flash in the pan, that this is sustained movement.

women are showing up to marches and rallies around the world. they are taking our lead and saint this is an issue that unites us. we want a safer world for our daughters, our mothers, our sisters, our wives. to do so women need to have a voice at the table. i'd think we are not going to go back where an era of misconduct was something that we don't talk about or we push under the rug here it for now, it is a political rallying cry that gets women elected to office, that is great. if we see something else in the 2020 elections, that's one thing. the movement will not go away. host: clint is in washington on the democrat line. caller: hello. i was wondering if there was any statistical research on why or whether women vote for women? yeah, women vote for women often times and particularly democratic women are more likely to vote for other democratic women.

research shows women of color are more likely to vote for a black woman then another demographic group. there is an understanding that these women will serve as trustees. when there are issues that are on crystallized, that the candidates have not talked about or something happened that changes the face of the political landscape that voters have not thought about, they say apple put a trustee in office. somebody that i know would do what i would do or want them to do in that situation because they share similar background or experiences to mind that let me know even if something happens that is unpalatable -- unfathomable, it will let me know they will handle it in a way that is important to me in my interest. that is the whole premise of having the house of representatives. you have a group of people who are closely represented of the people. they are closely aligned to the interests of them.

they are also from the people. when an issue comes up that people don't know about or know what it might be, they feel comfortable saying their elected official, although it they did they wouldn on that, do what they want them to do. that is one of the reasons why women, minorities vote for people that look like them. they think that if one of these issues was to come up, they would do with the constituency would want them to do. melt as far as they candidates go for the u.s. senate, some numbers here from cnn about their success rate. i want to get your perspective on these numbers. in 2012, 55% of u.s. candidates in the senate won their races. in 2016 it went down to 32%. any insight into the drop? guest: i think we were seeing it back -- to democratic -- a backlash to democratic party and democratic politics.

republicans swept the senate and chambers so that both of congress where republican and we had a republican executive. some of that is. partisan politics. there are less women in the republican party that are running. the republican party has a dirth of women candidates. they don't have the same backbench to choose from that democrats have. some is just a numbers game. if you don't have elected officials that -- or candidates at lower-level officials to choose from, when it reaches higher levels of office they won't be there to put their names in the hat. host: we have susan. susan is on the line rum -- line from california. caller: yes. you said you were -- you wanted women, all women. you did not mention one

conservative woman here it you mentioned all democrats. there is a woman by the name of candace allen and someone by the name of harris faulkner. they are conservative women, but they have very different views from you. why wouldn't you put them on your list also? host: let's hear from professor brown. guest: i think that is a legitimate and alec question. i mentioned the democratic women because there are overwhelming number of women running in this election are democrats. there a smaller percentage of republican. it does not mean we should not pay attention to those races or highlight those women here but they are not receiving the national attention because, quite frankly the numbers are just small and not there. again, that is not an excuse to ignore them, but most times you talk about people that are

understanding about politics and what women do in politics in a unique way. i will bring up the example of mia love, the first black women to sit in congress as a republican. all the time to the vows when he the election because of her personal identity. the fact that she is a woman, an immigrant from parents from haiti and she says none of this has anything to do with how she governs. as true as that might be, from my own scholarship and women of politics, what i am interested in looking at is what helps me make sense in my models of white women run and how they win, a lot is predicated on what language are they using to signal to voters that gender matters, that race matters? when you have candidates that don't highlight or talk about the influences that gender or race makes, it doesn't mean they

are less important as candidates to their attention to, they don't square as well with the literature. host: i wanted to show a campaign ad of someone named dep holland who is very likely to become the first native american woman to be elected. >> in the face of donald trump and men like him, we must be fierce. i have always fought for women like us. women of color, single moms, lesbians, trans women, military families, any woman who has been assaulted or harassed. there has never been a native american woman in congress. now is the time to bp or's and demand change. haaland and i approve this message because congress has never heard like me. host: how significant with that be? guest: it would be a watershed moment to have a woman of color who is so latently inclusive and who is running on a platform not

only bringing her own background in but all women or people that might have marginalized identity. and specifically saying that up front. i'm looking forward to seeing the outcome of that race. also, regardless of party or or partisanship, seeing someone from an underrepresented group to be something we celebrate and cheer. democracy works better when there are all sorts of people elected that can bring a different set of policy solutions to the table. host: let's get one last call. roy in san antonio. caller: good morning. thanks for taking my call. two questions. one is like a statement. on workers,tand

illegal aliens? down here, i'm retired so it doesn't matter, but people i talk to like black americans, mexican-americans, and white americans are completely undercut the wages in that. i know this for example because my daughter built a house next door to me and everyone except the managers were illegal aliens. number two, in the late 60's i read this book what is called black slave owners. the black slave owners that lived in texas and mississippi and that. that book, do you know about that book? i tried to get it a while ago, but i was unable to purchase. they said it didn't exist. that i know it existed because i read it. host: thanks for calling. you raise two distinct

issues. in terms of people that are in this country illegally undercutting workers come i think that is an issue that, you are, women of both parties around, particularly because labor and women labor in particular are an issue that many candidates are already talking about. i do not know what the policy solution would be coming but again, having many different people in the room with different viewpoints when the letter in terms of policies. for the book you can no longer find, i am not familiar with the scholarship, but that is true, there were two africans who owned a slave people. -- enslaved people. i am struggling to make the connection between that and the

women in politics. host: nadia brown is a professor of political science at purdue university. women'se professor of studies, also author of "sisters of the statehouse." again, thank you for your time and your insights this morning. guest: thank you for having me. host: this coming monday, we will have a u.s. senate debate featuring two women candidates, fischer -- deb fisher and challenger jane raybould. this debate should last about one hour. when we come back, we will take a look at congress and hear from yuval levin of "commentary" magazine, who talks to us about his piece, what he sees as the failure of congress.

we will be right back. ♪ ahead, hello, kavanaugh has got to go. >> he is one of the most qualified nominees for the spring, and he has contributed a great deal to this community and the legal profession, besides being an outstanding judge on the pc circuit court of appeals. kavanaugh -- judge the president said he would only appoint judges who would overturn roe. on that obligation, judge kavanaugh fails spectacularly. after a thorough review of this nomination, i am confident ant judge kavanaugh will be

excellent addition to our nation's highest court. >> washday 14 supreme court brett kavanaugh. watch any time c-span.org or listen on the freeseas radio at -- free c-span radio app. join us for booktv's live coverage of the 18th annual national book festival. full of surprise wedding author -- pulitzer prize-winning author john , florence goodwin with leadership in turbulent times, ryan withews host andrew jackson and the miracle of new orleans, the battle that shaped