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Tuesday, November 10, 2026Nov 10

AP EXPLAINS: Long history of women running for president

California delegates hold up signs as they cheer for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Thursday, July 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
California delegates hold up signs as they cheer for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Thursday, July 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) California delegates hold up signs as they cheer for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Thursday, July 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

It’s been read, written and said countless times in the last few days: Hillary Clinton is the first woman to claim a major party’s presidential nomination.

But why that “major” qualifier?

No woman has been this close to the Oval Office before, right?

The background:

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