18 women candidates to watch for the 2018 midterms

13. Sharice Davids (D)

State: Kansas
Race: 3rd District
Platform highlights: Davids’ platform is similar to that of many other Democrats running in the midterm elections. Her positions include tax reform, with a special focus on the recently passed tax bill and its breaks for large businesses and high-earning Americans.

Davids also argues for better public education, including high-quality preschool offerings and better access to both university and trade-based education programs. She has also stated her support for Head Start programs throughout the nation, including increased support for summer and after-school programming for students.

As for healthcare, Davids supports expanding Medicaid access and reproductive healthcare. Her campaign has also acknowledged and wants to address the significantly high maternal mortality rate for African-American mothers.

Why you should watch out for her: Davids is a lawyer and former White House fellow, having served under the Obama administration. Yes, she is also a former MMA competitor. That’s somewhat unusual, though Oklahoma Republican Markwayne Mullin is also a retired MMA fighter.

If elected, Davids would be the first Native American to represent the district. In fact, she could be one of the first Native American women ever in Congress (New Mexico Democrat Deb Haaland could also achieve that goal, if she is elected in November). She is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, a Native American tribe in Wisconsin.

Davids would also be the first lesbian congressperson from Kansas, and one of the very few openly gay members of Congress overall.

She is set to face Republican challenger Kevin Yoder, whom she has called “a pawn for Donald Trump.” Yoder, who has significantly more campaign funding, has been endorsed by President Trump.

Campaign website: www.shariceforcongress.com