A Pew Research Survey in June 2016 said Hillary Clinton led Donald Trump by 18 percentage points among women over age 50. President Barack Obama only led Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney by eight percentage points among this demographic in 2012, and he only led GOP nominee Sen. John McCain by four in 2008.
Clinton has emphasized the historical significance of her candidacy by pointing to women in this demographic. Jerry Emmett, a 102-year-old woman born before women were granted the right to vote in 1920, was an honorary Clinton delegate at the Democratic National Convention in July. Clinton, as the first woman ever nominated for the presidency by a major party, is drawing much of her support by women over 50. Here are some of their stories.
Johnnie Douglas, 79
“I always thought I might see a woman president before I leave,” Douglas said.
“I worked in food service management at a hospital for 20 years, and then at a public school for another 20. I didn’t have the chance to do the jobs that men do, and knowing that my granddaughter does ... I like that.”
“The things Trump is saying are ugly,” Douglas said. “In all my years, I’ve never heard anyone running for president talk like that. In all my years.”
Theresa Moore, 71 (left) and Oris Dukes, 73
“The other candidate is putting women down, and I wanted to show him that women can do just as much as men,” Dukes said.
“I’m not just saying this because of my color and my gender, but I don’t want a return to ‘old-school,’ I don’t want to make America great again,” Moore said. “I want progress. And then I want Michelle Obama to be president next.”
Deloris Wright, 73
“I’m so excited to vote for Hillary,” Wright said. “It’s good because we need a woman leader, and we’ve got just about the best one.”
When asked if she thought her life would’ve been different if she’d had a female president to look up to as a child, Wright laughed.
“Oh yes, lordy, we had it bad,” she said. “We didn’t have opportunities like women do now; we didn’t even dream about that.”
Arlette Remy, 82
“My great granddaughter is 5 years old, and I look forward to her being a great, successful woman one day,” Remy said.
“Maybe even president.”
Katherine Womack, 74 (left) and Jean Caldwell, 67
“My father taught me the importance of voting, and I tried to instill that in my children and grandchildren, and great grandchild once he can vote,” Womack said. “I never thought we’d get to vote for a black president so once that happened, I thought anything could happen.
“The more I learn about her and what her record is and what she stands for, the more excited I am about her,” Caldwell said.
“Her composure is incredible. I think having her as president will help women in this country be more respected and maybe get equal pay.”
Elaine Judkins, 67
“I taught my children the importance of voting because our ancestors — black ancestors and female ancestors — died trying to get the right to vote,” Judkins said. “It was amazing to vote for the first black president, and now it’s amazing to vote for the first woman.”
Margaret Rozelle, 71
“I studied architectural engineering, and my classes were almost all just boys,” Rozelle said. “People don’t expect women to be able to do the things men do. It would be such a good thing to have a woman as president and show people that woman can do this too.”
Anne McLeod, 71
“I always taught my kids that voting is important,” McLeod said. “We all voted together last weekend. Clinton’s commitment to health care matters a lot to people my age, and her commitment to education makes me feel like she’ll help my granddaughter out when she’s going to college.”
Anna Waters is a junior studying journalism and political science at Northwestern University.
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