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Arizona, U.S. Sees Surge In Women Interested In Running For Office

Although women make up half of the American population, only one in five United States Representatives are actually women right now.

Political experts say that's about to change in 2018.

Prior to President Donald Trump's win in November 2016, the website Emily's List had fewer than 1,000 women asking for information on running as a Democrat for office.

Today, more than 26,000 women have signed up for the site, which promotes women candidates with pro-choice values.

The Center for American Women and Politics reports the majority of women focused on the U.S. House and governor's races are primarily Democrats, but Republican women have signed on too, under the "Right Here, Right Now" political website.

The last surge for women running for office hit in 1992, during the Anita Hill sexual harassment testimonies against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas.

In Arizona, seven women have expressed interest in running for the U.S. District 8 congressional seat after Rep. Trent Franks stepped down amid sexual harassment allegations.

Republican Kimberly Yee formally announced she would not run on Tuesday, leaving Debbie Lesko as the sole Republican woman vying for the seat. Female Democrats Hiral Tipirneni and Brianna Westbrook are officially running as Democrats.

The special primary election for the congressional seat is Feb. 27. The special general election will happen April 24.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Holliday Moore was a reporter at KJZZ from 2017 to 2020.