As they head toward the first electoral contest of 2020, some of the remaining Democratic candidates are not holding back. During a rather boring and expected final debate on Tuesday night, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren made a forceful case for electing the first female president. This topic was set in motion by an earlier report that fellow candidate Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders told Warren privately that a woman could not win the presidency. Sanders denied it, but Warren persisted. But this isn't a good look for either Warren or those of a similar mindset who push the idea of a female president at any and all costs.

Though they don't care to admit it, the Democratic Party is still reeling from Hillary Clinton's loss to Donald Trump in 2016. Not only did a supposedly inevitable candidate lose to a political newcomer (who they consider an existential threat), but the first major female presidential nominee in history lost to a man. The long-awaited history-making would have to wait. In the years since Trump took office, the desire to unseat him has grown exceedingly strong.

Unfortunately for Warren, it appears that the Democrats desire a "safe" win against Trump, first and foremost, before making a statement on gender equality at the national, presidential level. According to the most recent polling, Warren is third behind Sanders and the front-runner, former Vice President Joe Biden. Unless something changes dramatically in the coming weeks, it is highly unlikely that she will clinch the Democratic nomination.

For the longest time, the desire for the first female president has been preached to voters as a necessary box to check. In the eyes of modern-day feminists and their supporters, it is the next step to realizing some magical level of equality in a male-dominated political world. As evident with Warren's confrontation of Sanders, now candidates are being shamed for their supposed disinterest or disagreement, too. The increasing demand for female politicians at any level, and especially a female president, is more likely to cause aversion.

It is one thing to present experienced, capable women as options on a ballot. It is another thing entirely to act as though voters must choose them simply because of their gender.

But this is exactly the kind of message that Warren is preaching as she shames the audience with her push for a female presidency.

Most voters, Democrat and Republican alike, cast a vote for the candidate who best represents their beliefs and policy leanings. Unsurprisingly, gender plays such a small part that it's almost inconsequential. But this is the kind of news people such as Warren do not want to hear. As she highlights the need for some sort of artificial equality, she really hopes that her gender will be enough to capture extra support. In that way, the campaign for a female president is as sexist as demanding a male be elected for no other reason than his biology.

In 2016, Clinton captured 232 electoral votes to Trump's 306. But in terms of the popular vote, she beat him by a comfortable 2,868,691‬. This figure, used frequently by those who say she's the rightful winner, goes to show anyone that women are absolutely capable of beating their male opponents even at the political game. It's also a reminder that popular vote and true victory brought about by electoral dominance are two entirely different things. And if one blames sexism for her loss, the vote count easily refutes them.

It seems that Democrats are willing to do anything to get a female president in office. But is this how they want that history to be made?

You know one clear way to demonstrate that you believe a woman can and should be president? Don’t try to defeat a woman running for President. — Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) January 14, 2020

The end goal should be an organic victory where a woman becomes president because her policies appeal to enough voters. With her display at the debate, Elizabeth Warren seems content to force this evolution and chastise anyone, male or female, who dares stand in her way. Ultimately, it makes her look weak, all while she tries to sell herself as the strong female leader America needs.

Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.