(CNN) -- Over the past few months, newspapers, websites and cable news programs have implied 2010 would be a year of remarkable progress for women in politics. With a record number of women running for the U.S. House (138) and U.S. Senate (15), pundits, pollsters and politicians assumed it was the dawn of a new day, one in which Democrats and Republicans understood the importance of electing women. High-profile female candidates, many with interesting personal stories and personality traits, fostered the speculation that 2010 might very well be another "Year of the Woman." But it wasn't. In fact, Wednesday morning's headlines did not even mention women. Obviously, Democratic losses and Republican's ascent correctly took center stage. But some important points about women in politics slipped through the cracks.
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Jennifer Lawless: Number of female candidates made 2010 seem like big year for women
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But when vote count is over, number will likely stay right where it is, she says
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She says shift in House pushed Democrat women out of leadership positions
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Lawless: Women winning governor races significant, but not same as overall gains
Early reports of the new @placeholder leadership include no women's names.