Like seven GOP

candidates

faced with a debate phase

at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley on Wednesday evening

a few dozen Republican women gathered about 10 miles away

to assess whether any of the contenders had a chance of beating former President Trump.

The members of the Simi Valley & Moorpark Republican Women’s Federation,

largely

white women

more than 50

chewing chicken and sipping a beer under the twinkling string lights at the Simi Hills Golf Course bar,

alternately cheering and jeering as their favorite and least favorite candidates took the floor.

The 2024 elections will test whether Republicans can retain women

voters

. In presidential races, women tend to support the Democratic candidate, but that gap does not exist

narrowed

in recent elections. Trump

won 44% of female voters in 2020, up from 39% in 2016,

according to the Pew Research Center. Republicans also won among women in 2022 compared to the previous midterm elections, mainly because more Republican women voted

,

Pew

found it.

Barbra Williamson, 80, a 52-year-old Simi Valley resident, has her eye on the former South Carolina governor. Nikki Haley

the only woman on the GOP debate stage

. Williamson, who served on the Simi Valley City Council for 20 years, said she is especially looking for more women to enter politics.

younger,

replacing older politicians like Biden, Trump, Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco).

She just brings something to the table, you know? She’s smart, Williamson said of Haley. She says what she thinks, and I feel comfortable with her. Will that change? Don’t know. I love Trump; I think he did a lot for our country. I don’t know if he brings a lot of baggage with him.

Insurance broker Julie Abfelbaum agreed: I love Trump, but I think he has too much baggage; I don’t think he’s going to make it. Too many people hate him for no reason, Trump disorder syndrome.

With a bright red blazer, matching lipstick and nail polish, president of the federation

Jennifer

Jones, 49, excitedly welcomed each newcomer to the Birdie Bar patio. Her club has host

ed

debate view on parties

for years

she said, but the fact that the candidates

were so close, which added to the excitement

.

Reagan loved Simi Valley and we love his policies. That’s the one thing that really resonates with a lot of members of our club, and that’s the polite politics that he had. And that no longer exists, Jones said.

Before the debate began, club leaders handed out small favors: plastic bags full of candies, Reagan’s favorite candies. Every time a candidate said the word I, attendees were instructed to drink a jelly bean. The bags were empty quickly.

Jones said she hopes for a politician who can get people to work together. Is there a candidate who seems to bring people together? Jones grimaced. All the women in her club work together, she said cheerfully.

Jones, a full-time mother and volunteer, also hopes Haley makes it through the primaries, not only for her, but for her 17-year-old daughter, who will vote for the first time in next year’s general election.

She wants to vote and really wants a female president. That’s what her excitement is about, Jones said, then paused. Tears run down her cheeks. She is right. We need a female president. I think it’s time.

But even as some in the club expressed enthusiasm for Haley, it was clear why Trump, who skipped the debate

giving a speech in Michigan

leads by an overwhelming margin in the polls for the Republican nomination.

Trump supporters were scattered across the patio of the Birdie Bar. One woman showed up wearing American flag arm warmers, a star-spangled cowboy hat, a T-shirt that said I stand with Trump and leggings that said Make America Great Again.

The loudest reaction from the relatively lukewarm crowd on the patio came from the former governor of New Jersey. Chris Christie addressed Trump directly.

You’re not here tonight because you’re afraid to be on this stage, Christie said to the camera.

Laughter rang out across the patio, followed by boos.

You are jealous! shouted Apfelbaum, who wore sparkling silver locks in her long dark brown hair. Jealousy killed the cat.

Appelboom clapped heartily for the governor of Florida. Ron DeSantis, her favorite candidate. She checked off what she considered his accomplishments: failing to implement strict pandemic restrictions, banning critical race theory and serving in the military.

I would like to [to] make California like Florida. That’s my motto, she said.

We won’t be like California and have huge numbers of people in government programs with no work requirements

.

We believe you work and you should, DeSantis said during the debate, drawing applause from the Birdie Bar.

Yeah, fine! a woman said to the TV.

Many terrace visitors shook their heads and laughed every time the candidates argued and crosstalked on the television screen.

[It’s] just like the housewives you can’t even hear what they’re saying! a woman exclaimed.

At one point, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) turned to Haley and berated her

raising the state’s gas tax while governor of South Carolina

. The crowd at the Birdie Bar laughed as Haley grinned and said, Come on, Tim.

Get it, Haley! Jones cheered.

Asked about

the likely prospect that Haley,

who votes in single digits,

Because he won’t survive the primaries, Jones looked disappointed.

Politics is a male-dominated profession, she said. And if you’re a woman running for president, it’s hard to get those numbers because we’re conditioned to think that a man should run this country. … We are constantly fighting for our rights, and that has to stop because we have a lot to offer. There’s a lot we can do. And I know it’s time.