Female state legislators in the United States

Last updated
Percentage of state legislature that is female. US map. Percentage of state legislature that is female. By state.svg
Percentage of state legislature that is female.

Women have served in state legislatures in the United States since 1895. Their ranks have increased with the advent of nationwide women's suffrage after 1920. Although the number of women serving in state legislatures has more than quintupled since 1971 [2] , they remain underrepresented. In 2023, women held less than half of the seats in state legislatures across the majority of states [3] . Specifically, seven states —Oklahoma (19.2%), Louisiana (19.4%), Alabama (17.4%), South Carolina (14.8%), Mississippi (14.5%), Tennessee (14.4%), and West Virginia (11.9%)— had legislatures where women occupied less than 20% of the seats [3] .

Contents

Table. US states and Washington, DC. 2023

Table. US territories. 2023

Note: 24 female legislators overall in Puerto Rico. Affiliations: 8 PNP, 11 PPD, 5 Third Party. [1]

History

The first women to serve in any state legislature were Clara Cressingham, Carrie C. Holly and Frances S. Klock, who were all elected in 1894 to the Colorado State House of Representatives. [4] All three were elected the year after women in Colorado obtained the right to vote through popular election in 1893. [5] As Secretary of the House Republican Caucus, Cressingham was the first woman to fill a leadership position in an American legislature. [6] In 1896, Martha Hughes Cannon became the first woman elected to an upper body of a state legislature when she defeated her own husband, Angus M. Cannon, for a seat in the Utah State Senate. [7] [8]

The 50th state to see the debut of female state legislators in their lower house was Hawaii in 1959, who elected Dorothy Devereux and Eureka Forbes to their House of Representatives upon admittance to statehood. Alabama's Senate was the 50th upper house to welcome women when Ann Bedsole and Frances Strong joined the Senate in 1983. [9]

In 2016, the highest shares of female members of a state legislature - at least 35% per state legislature - were in Colorado (30/65 in the House, 12/35 in the Senate), Vermont (65/150 in the House, 9/30 in the Senate), and Arizona (19/60 in the House, 13/30 in the Senate). [10] The shares in Colorado and Vermont decreased to below 40% in 2017, while Arizona, Illinois, Nevada and Washington all saw their numbers increase up to between 35% and 39%. Altogether in 2017, women constitute 24.8% of all state legislators in the United States, [11] a ratio that has increased by less than 4 percentage points since 1994.

Only four chambers have reached a near or absolute majority of women:

List of first women to serve in state and territorial legislatures

State Legislative Leadership

Leadership positions at the state legislatures include senate presidents, presidents pro tempore, house speakers, majority and minority leaders of the senate and house. In 2023, women held leadership positions in 35 state senates and in 32 state houses, which corresponds to 26% of 350 positions [21] . 44 women (34D, 10R) serve in these leadership roles at State Senates and 47 (36D, 11R) serve at the State Houses [21] . Nine states (AL, IN, KY, MS, NE, SC, SD, TX, WY) have no women in leadership positions.

Current Women Speakers of State Houses [22]

There are 10 (9D, 1R) women currently serving as the speakers of State Houses.

Cathy Tilton (R-AK)

Julie McCluskie (D-CO)

Valerie Longhurst (D-DE)

Adrienne A. Jones (D-MD)

Rachel Talbot Ross (D-ME)

Melissa Hortman (D-MN)

Julie Fahey (D-OR)

Joanna McClinton (D-PA)

Jill Krowinski (D-VT)

Laurie Jinkins (D-WA)

Current Women Presidents or Presidents Pro Tem of Senates [22]

There are 15 (11D, 4R) women currently serving as Presidents or Presidents Pro Tem of State Senates.

Kathleen Passidomo (R-FL)

Michelle Kidani (D-HI)

Amy Sinclair (R-IA)

Regina Ashford Barrow (D-LA)

Karen Spilka (D-MA)

Ann H. Rest (D-MN)

Shirley Turner (D-NJ)

Mimi Stewart (D-NM)

Pat Spearman (D-NV)

Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-NY)

Kim L. Ward (R-PA)

Hanna M. Gallo (D-RI)

Louise Lucas (D-VA)

Karen Keiser (D-WA)

Donna J. Boley (R-WV)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution</span> 1920 amendment mandating womens suffrage

The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the United States and its states from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of sex, in effect recognizing the right of women to vote. The amendment was the culmination of a decades-long movement for women's suffrage in the United States, at both the state and national levels, and was part of the worldwide movement towards women's suffrage and part of the wider women's rights movement. The first women's suffrage amendment was introduced in Congress in 1878. However, a suffrage amendment did not pass the House of Representatives until May 21, 1919, which was quickly followed by the Senate, on June 4, 1919. It was then submitted to the states for ratification, achieving the requisite 36 ratifications to secure adoption, and thereby go into effect, on August 18, 1920. The Nineteenth Amendment's adoption was certified on August 26, 1920.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado General Assembly</span> Legislative branch of the state government of Colorado

The Colorado General Assembly is the state legislature of the State of Colorado. It is a bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives that was created by the 1876 state constitution. Its statutes are codified in the Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.). The session laws are published in the Session Laws of Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Legislature</span> Legislative branch of the state government of Florida

The Florida Legislature is the legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. It is organized as a bicameral body composed of an upper chamber, the Senate, and a lower chamber, the House of Representatives. Article III, Section 1 of the Florida Constitution, adopted in 1968, defines the role of the legislature and how it is to be constituted. The legislature is composed of 160 state legislators. The primary purpose of the legislature is to enact new laws and amend or repeal existing laws. It meets in the Florida State Capitol building in Tallahassee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado House of Representatives</span> Lower house of the state legislature of Colorado, US

The Colorado House of Representatives is the lower house of the Colorado General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Colorado. The House is composed of 65 members from an equal number of constituent districts, with each district having 75,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms, and are limited to four consecutive terms in office, but can run again after a four-year respite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan Senate</span> Upper state chamber of Michigan

The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. Along with the Michigan House of Representatives, it composes the state legislature, which has powers, roles and duties defined by Article IV of the Michigan Constitution, adopted in 1963. The primary purpose of the Legislature is to enact new laws and amend or repeal existing laws.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arizona State Legislature</span> Legislative branch of the state government of Arizona

The Arizona State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arizona. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Senate. Composed of 90 legislators, the state legislature meets in the Capitol Complex in the state capital of Phoenix. Created by the Arizona Constitution upon statehood in 1912, the Arizona State Legislature met biennially until 1950. Today, they meet annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kentucky General Assembly</span> Legislative branch of the state government of Kentucky

The Kentucky General Assembly, also called the Kentucky Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Kentucky. It comprises the Kentucky Senate and the Kentucky House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma House of Representatives</span> Lower house of Oklahomas legislature

The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the legislature of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members introduce and vote on bills and resolutions, provide legislative oversight for state agencies, and help to craft the state's budget. The upper house of the Oklahoma Legislature is the Oklahoma Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judy Eason McIntyre</span> American politician

Judy Eason McIntyre is an American politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A Democrat, McIntyre served as an Oklahoma state Senator from 2004 to 2012 representing District 11, which includes Osage and Tulsa counties. She also served as State Representative from 2002 to 2004 representing District 73 where she was the first freshman appointed to the Speaker's Leadership Team. For the 16 years before her election to the Oklahoma Legislature, she was an elected board member for the Tulsa Public Schools in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Seitz</span> American politician (born 1954)

William J. Seitz III is the state representative for the 30th district of the Ohio House of Representatives. He is a Republican. The district consists of Cheviot, Delhi Township, Green as well as portions of Cincinnati, in Hamilton County. Formerly, Seitz represented the same seat from 2001 to 2007. He served in the Ohio Senate from 2007 to 2016. He has also served as Majority Leader since 2017 serving under five different speakers and two interim speakers. After 24 years in the Ohio General Assembly, Seitz has decided to retire at the end of his term in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The 2012 Project</span>

The 2012 Project is a nonpartisan national campaign of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University. The project's goal is to identify and engage accomplished women to run for the United States Congress and state legislatures following reapportionment and redistricting within each state. U.S. Census data collected every 10 years include information on population shifts across the nation and are used to redraw congressional and state legislative districts resulting in new and open legislative seats. This work is done in order to comply with the 1965 Voting Rights Act and the "one person, one vote" principle. As of the 2010 Census, women made up 50.8% of the population. In terms of congressional and legislative seats, women currently make up 17% of the U.S. Senate and 16.8% of the U.S. House of Representatives. They make up a slightly larger percentage of the state legislatures at 23.6%. The aim of The 2012 Project is to increase the number of women running for state legislative and congressional office in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1893 Colorado women's suffrage referendum</span> Colorado suffrage referendum

On November 7, 1893, a referendum on women's suffrage was held in Colorado that secured women's voting rights. Subsequently, Colorado became the first American state to enact women's suffrage by popular referendum. The act granted women the right to vote "in the same manner in all respects as male persons are."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clara Cressingham</span> American politician

Clara Cressingham was one of the first women elected to serve in any state legislature in the United States. She was also the first woman to serve in a leadership position in any state legislature.

The Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) is a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Established in 1971, it is nationally and internationally recognized as the leading source of scholarly research and current data about U.S. women's political participation. Its mission is "to promote greater knowledge and understanding about women's participation in politics and government and to enhance women's influence and leadership in public life."

Gloria Travis Tanner was a politician and public figure in Colorado. A Democrat, she served in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1985-1994. In 1994, she became the first African American woman to serve as a Colorado state senator. In 2000, she founded a leadership and training institute for black women in Colorado. She was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alma V. Lafferty</span> American suffragist, clubwoman, and politician

Alma V. Short Lafferty was an American suffragist, clubwoman, and politician. She served two terms in the Colorado House of Representatives, from 1908 to 1912.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1879 Massachusetts legislature</span>

The 100th Massachusetts General Court, consisting of the Massachusetts Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives, met in 1879 during the governorship of Thomas Talbot. John B. D. Cogswell served as president of the Senate and Levi C. Wade served as speaker of the House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1895 Massachusetts legislature</span>

The 116th Massachusetts General Court, consisting of the Massachusetts Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives, met in 1895 during the governorship of Frederic T. Greenhalge. William M. Butler served as president of the Senate and George von Lengerke Meyer served as speaker of the House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice Merritt</span> American politician

Alice Pattison Merritt was an American politician who was the first woman to be elected to the Connecticut State Senate, in 1924. Reelected in 1926, she served in the senate from 1925 to 1929.

Alice Ruble was a state legislator in Colorado. She served in the Colorado House of Representatives. She nominated Henry M. Teller for U.S. Senator in support of his re-election. She served in Colorado's 14th General Assembly

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Women in State Legislatures 2024. New Brunswick, NJ: Center for American Women and Politics, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University–New Brunswick.
  2. "Women in State Legislatures 2024". cawp.rutgers.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  3. 1 2 Hawes, Jennifer Berry (2024-01-11). "How Many of Your State's Lawmakers Are Women? If You Live in the Southeast, It Could Be Just 1 in 5". ProPublica. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  4. "First Women to Serve in State and Territorial Legislatures". National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved 10 March 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. "House Bill 118". State of Colorado. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  6. Kopel, Jerry. "Colorado Women First to Reach Statehouse". The Colorado Statesman. Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  7. "Education & Resources - National Women's History Museum - NWHM". www.nwhm.org. Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  8. Katz, Elizabeth D. (2021-07-30). "Sex, Suffrage, and State Constitutional Law: Women's Legal Right to Hold Public Office". Rochester, NY. SSRN   3896499.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. Legislatures, National Conference of State. "First Women to Serve in State and Territorial Legislatures" . Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  10. Legislatures, National Conference of State. "Women in State Legislatures for 2016" . Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  11. Legislatures, National Conference of State. "Women in State Legislatures for 2017" . Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  12. Women Dominate New Hampshire State Senate, NPR, November 9, 2008, 4:00 PM ET
  13. "With latest appointment, women represent 50% of Oregon House". 15 June 2020.
  14. "Emily Sophie Brown".
  15. 1 2 Nichols, Carole (2013-04-15). Votes and More for Women: Suffrage and After in Connecticut. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-135-81800-5.
  16. "MRS. Lillian Mae Frink". The New York Times. 16 March 1974.
  17. "Who is Mary Hooker? | Mary Hooker Magnet School".
  18. Weatherford, Doris (2012-01-20). Women in American Politics: History and Milestones. SAGE. ISBN   978-1-60871-007-2.
  19. https://cslib.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/api/singleitem/image/p15019coll2/14/default.jpg?highlightTerms=Alice%20Merritt [ bare URL image file ]
  20. Women in American Politics: History and Milestones, by Doris Weatherford | "New England's first female senator was Alice Virginia Merritt of Connecticut. A Republican, she lived in the capital city, Hartford, where her husband, Joseph Merritt, founded a still extant firm specializing in blueprints. She had served as a volunteer in the Red Cross Motor Corps during World War I, meaning she was independent enough to drive at a time when most women did not. Connecticut had two-year senate terms, and Merritt was reelected in 1926. She lived until 1950."
  21. 1 2 "Women in State Legislative Leadership 2023". cawp.rutgers.edu. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  22. 1 2 "Women in State Legislatures 2024". cawp.rutgers.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-30.