The View Co-Hosts Debate Electability of Female Presidential Candidates

On a recent episode of “The View,” Joy Behar reiterated her belief that a woman is unlikely to win the U.S. presidency. The conversation began with Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and soon shifted to the complexities of identity politics.

“I think this country will vote for an obese, Jewish, Black, homosexual before a woman,” Behar commented. Guest host Star Jones concurred, referencing previous female presidential candidates.

Former First Lady Jill Biden has expressed doubts about seeing a female president in her lifetime. Behar pointed to the candidacies of Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton as examples of unsuccessful female bids for the presidency.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, a Republican co-host, remains optimistic. She believes a woman will become president within two decades.

Patrice Onwuka, an economic policy expert, criticized the emphasis on identity politics. She argued that the failures of Clinton and Harris were due to their policies and personalities rather than their gender.

Psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert offered a nuanced view. “Two women lost to Donald Trump. That doesn’t prove Americans won’t elect a woman. It proves those two women lost those two elections,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told The New York Times about considering a 2028 presidential run. She acknowledged the challenges posed by her identity as a Latina woman under a conservative administration.