It happened once again.

White women overwhelmingly supported conservative Republican male candidates.

This shouldn't come as a shock to anyone considering an estimated 53 percent of white female voters cast their ballots for Trump in 2016.

Nonetheless, these statistics are disheartening for progressive women to hear.

According to a CNN poll, in Tuesday's midterm election, 75 percent of white women voted for Republican Brian Kemp over Stacey Abrams for Georgia governor, despite Kemp being a fierce pro-life supporter while Abrams defended women's reproductive rights.

Similarly, 60 percent of white women in Texas voted for Sen. Ted Cruz, a supporter and defender of Brett Kavanaugh.

Women have the power to decide elections, so why is such a large percentage continuing to support candidates whose platform points are anti-women?

Part of the problem is white women's privilege and desire to protect their status. White women don't have to worry about their children being locked up in cages, being wrongfully profiled because of the color of their skin or facing diminished job opportunities.

Instead of voting for candidates who put women of color in danger, white women should use their voices to advocate for those who can't be heard.

People want to believe certain issues are universal to all women, but many times it is more complicated than this. More and more we see white women identify more strongly as Republican or Christian rather than women.

However, white women voters need to be engaged rather than dismissed and given up on. Considering they make up such a large voting bloc, progressives need to connect with these women in order to create an agenda that works for everyone.

Although these facts are bleak, the midterm elections featured historic wins for progressive women. Over 100 women were elected to Congress including those who identify as Native American, African American, Muslim, Hispanic and LGBTQ.

Women's rights need to be prioritized, and both women and men need to vote for candidates standing for policies promoting gender equality. Hopefully, we will see even more women elected to office in 2020. For now, we must strategize and continue to empower each other.

The future is female.