A wide gender gap played a key role in Anchorage mayor Mark Begich’s victory over Republican incumbent Ted Stevens, who has served six terms in the Senate. Though Begich won this razor-close race by less than 4,000 votes, the gender gap is around 16 points. Exit polls showed that 55% of women and 39% of men supported Begich.
In other Senate Races, women’s votes elected Jean Shaheen (D-NH) over anti-choice Republican incumbent John Sununu; 60% of women and only 45% of men voted for Shaheen—for a whopping 15% gender gap. Victor Kay Hagan (D-NC) enjoyed a solid 8% gender gap (55%-47%) which produced her win over incumbent anti-choice Senator Elizabeth Dole. See a full analysis of the gender gap and election results here.
