As we enter the final stretch of the election, Donald Trump is desperately asking women to “please like me” after years of broken promises and failed leadership. But Trump’s disastrous record for women is hard to ignore. Researchers are referring to Trump’s economic crisis as a “shecession” because of the devastating job loss women, especially women of color, have experienced during this crisis. Trump’s record of failing women started long before the pandemic. Instead of fulfilling his promise to “do more” for women, he’s attacked women’s health care, attacked workplace discrimination protections, attacked the child care tax credit.
Let’s review Trump’s record of failing Florida’s women.
Trump’s failed pandemic response has disproportionately hurt women.
- Women experienced more job loss and a slower recovery than men during this unemployment crisis. Women are disproportionately employed by the sectors hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, the service and care industries.
- Black and Hispanic women are experiencing the highest unemployment at 11% in September — significantly higher than that of White men and women, which was 6.5% and 6.9% respectively.
- Trump’s failure to contain the pandemic and support schools in safely reopening has forced many women, who disproportionately fulfill child and elder-caretaking duties at home, drop out of the workforce to care for children
- Between August and September, 865,000 women dropped out of the labor force — more than four times the number of men that left the job market during that time.
- Women, especially women of color, are on the frontlines of this pandemic – 77% of health care workers are women, 53% of “critical retail” workers are women, and 78% of social workers are women. Trump’s inability to control this pandemic and keep frontline workers safe has disproportionately endangered women in America.
Trump has failed to reduce the cost of childcare and made little progress on paid family leave.
- In the midst of a pandemic in which women are disproportionately losing their jobs, Trump scaled back paid leave requirements, leaving 75% of workers at risk of not receiving paid leave for childcare.
- Trump touted an insufficient paid family leave proposal that “does not offer what has generally been considered paid family leave.”
- Trump’s tax scam reduced the value of the childcare credit for low- and moderate-income families even as it gave huge tax cuts to big corporations and the wealthiest 1%.
Trump has attacked women’s access to health care
- Trump is fighting to overturn the Affordable Care Act, which could allow insurers to charge women more and not cover maternity care.
- Trump issued a regulation allowing employers to refuse to provide no-cost contraception coverage as previously required under the Affordable Care Act.
- Trump slashed funding for family planning programs and health care providers.
Trump has failed to protect women against discrimination at work and school, especially around equal pay.
- Trump revoked protections against workplace sexual harassment, sexual assault, discrimination, and pay disparities.
- Trump opposed equal pay legislation and said “people have to go out and they have to fight for themselves.”
- Trump said women would make the same as men if they “do as good a job.”
Trump has a long history of disrespecting and objectifying women.
- Trump has long said sexist remarks about women — from making crude sexual jokes to disparaging their appearance.
STATEMENT: Sarasota County Democratic Party Chair on Ivanka Trump’s Event
In response to Ivanka Trump’s event in Sarasota today, Sarasota County Chair JoAnne DeVries released the following statement:
“Donald Trump has proven incapable of handling the biggest issue facing Florida’s health, economy, and way of life: the coronavirus pandemic. His own chief of staff admitted Trump can’t get the job done, saying, ‘we are not going to control the pandemic.’ Ivanka Trump’s visit does nothing for thousands of Floridians in Sarasota who desperately need strong leadership at every level to overcome this pandemic, keep our loved ones safe, and rebuild our economy. It is so, so important that we vote and vote early for Joe Biden and Democrats down the ticket.”
STATEMENT: FDP Chair on Donald Trump Jr.’s Visit to Florida Today
In response to Donald Trump Jr’s scheduled events in Florida today, FDP Chair Terrie Rizzo released the following statement:
“Another day, another attempt by the Trump family to spin this administration’s failures on the issues that matter most to Floridians. Donald Trump has surrendered to the coronavirus pandemic, throwing up his hands instead of helping keep us safe. Even as nearly half a million Floridians remain out of work, Trump similarly gave up on passing additional federal coronavirus relief. Donald Trump has proven he simply can’t deliver for Florida, so it is on us to elect someone who will. Don’t wait another day — drop off your mail ballots at a drop box or vote early at an early voting site near you.”
Commissioner Nikki Fried Releases New Digital Ad Highlighting Democratic Candidates From Across Florida
TALLAHASSEE, FL. – On Wednesday, Commissioner Nikki Fried announced a new digital ad highlighting down ballot Democratic candidates from across the state. The digital ad will be launched from her “Florida Consumers First PAC,” targeting Democratic voters in each of the candidate’s districts.
The ad is called, “Imagine a Florida,” highlighting what Florida would look like with Democrats in charge at every level.
“We have an incredibly talented, diverse, and experienced group of Democrats running up and down the ballot in Florida, and I want to ensure we see victories at every level,” said Commissioner Fried. “During this pandemic we continue to see first hand how important our local and state leaders are, and the difference between what Democrats have done to protect Floridians compared to Republicans couldn’t be more clear. We need Democrats at every level to transform our state to what it can be, and I’m proud to highlight these candidates in their districts ahead of November 3rd.”
The ad features: Kathy Lewis, Candidate for Senate District 20Corinna Robinson, Candidate for Senate District 25 Ricky Junquera, Candidate for House District 118Joshua Hicks, Candidate for House District 11Daisy Morales, Candidate for House District 48Nicole Hamm, Candidate for Jacksonville City CouncilKay Maragh, Candidate for Mayor, City of Palm Bay
This ad comes after Commissioner Fried announced over $100,000 of investments for down ballot candidates, including individual contributions, and partnerships with FDP to help candidates access crucial data. Fried is the only Democrat elected statewide to serve on Florida’s cabinet.