Women propel Obama into second term and make some HERstory of their own in the process

President Barack Obama was re-elected to a second term, and women played a role in his success.

Women voters favored Obama 55 percent to 43 percent over challenger Mitt Romney, according to NBC News.

Meanwhile, political analysts are saying that the Republican party failed to recognize the changing demographics of ethnicity and gender.  ABC News analyst Matt Dowd called the GOP a "'Mad Men' party in a 'Modern Family' America ..."

While some women celebrated political victories, others experienced defeat and disgrace.  Here are some highlights and milestones from the 2012 race:

Brown

Warren

• There are now 20 women in the U.S. Senate.  Among them is Elizabeth Warren who will serve as the first female senator from Massachusetts.
  
• There was also an interesting defeat.  Republican Linda McMahon, a former executive with World Wrestling Entertainment, lost her second bid for a Connecticut Senate seat.  She spent $10 million of her own money on her two campaigns.
  
• In my home state of Michigan, State Representative Lisa Brown (D), won her bid for Oakland County Clerk.  Earlier this year, the Michigan House of Representatives censured Brown for saying the word "vagina" in a floor debate over abortion legislation.

  

  Worthy

  
  
• Also in Michigan, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy won re-election. Worthy was also recognized in the November issue of O, The Oprah Magazine as one of "12 Elected Officials Who Get Things Done." She was also honored by the Wayne County Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) as a "feminist of the year."

•  In my home town of Troy, Mich., Mayor Janice Daniels was recalled after almost a year in office. According to Crain's Detroit Business, "Daniels, who had opposed taking federal money for a regional transit center in the city and drew fire from a former city manager and gay rights supporters in just one year of public office, had 47.8 percent of the votes in her favor in a local recall election ballot measure. The recall effort passed by 1,800 votes."

Want more post-election analysis?

The American Association of University Women will host a post-election conference call Monday, Nov. 12 at 8 p.m.  Lisa Maatz, the AAUW's director of public policy and government relations, will provide analysis of election results as well as an overview of how women voted and their impact on the results.  Preregistration is required.  Use this link to RSVP.