‘Haunted’ by Hillary’s defeat, Democrats ponder the risk of voting for a female candidate in 2020

At least five Democratic female lawmakers are in the White House race so far. But a stark question looms.

“Can a woman beat Trump? Some Democrats wonder if it’s worth the risk,” writes NBC News analyst Lauren Egan, recalling the 2016 experiences of Hillary Clinton.

“Democratic strategists say they recognize that many voters are haunted by the 2016 election. Polling data shows an unusually large number of Democratic voters say electability takes priority over values, compared to previous elections. Fairly or unfairly, strategists say, the electability question is one female candidates must answer, and they will have to convince voters that they are just as capable — or more — of defeating Trump as any of the men in the race,” Ms. Egan said.

“Right now there is this fear and concern that we have to pick the safest candidate,” said Adrienne Elrod — former director of strategic communications for Mrs. Clinton’s 2016 campaign. “Unfortunately, that caution does transition into, ’Can a woman take him on?’”

Kate Manne, a Cornell University philosophy scholar who specializes in gender and politics, also had advice.

“Problems arise when women are trying to run for the presidency, because that is the ultimate masculine-coded authority position and one is subordinate to no one,” she told Ms. Egan.