Even though we’re more than two years away from our next presidential election — and the Hillary Clinton mania likely to ensue — 2014 is shaping up to be a critical year for women in politics. As Clinton’s power base mobilizes, we’ll see her almighty influence on the mid-term congressional races, while several woman-vs.-woman races are percolating and reproductive rights debates are energizing some particularly contentious contests.

See a list of women to watch in politics here http://www.latimes.com/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-senate-women-to-watch-in-2014-20131227,0,6338310.photogallery?index=la-ol-senate-women-to-watch-in-2014-20131227-004