For the first time, women will make up a majority of state legislators in Colorado and New Mexico next year. Those states join Nevada, which beginning in 2019 became the first state to claim a female majority legislature. Women make up over 60% of Nevada’s Legislature. Democratic women also continue to outnumber Republican women in state legislatures.
Although some glass ceilings have been broken, the story of women championing the gender gap in politics is not universal throughout the country. At least 13 states saw losses in female representation after the November election, including South Carolina, where the only three female Republican state senators were ousted in primaries due to their stance against their own party’s abortion agenda. These “sister senators” join the list of former female representatives around the nation.
Women make up 51% of the population here in North Carolina, but only 30% of the legislature. In some Southern states, women make up as little as 11% of legislative bodies. The gender gap doesn’t stop solely in wins and losses, but also exists in who gives and just how much is given when it comes to campaign contributions.
This morning, we look at the electoral trends of women in politics, uncovering the gains and losses, and what it means for the future. Also, what does it take for women to win? We discuss with two nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations their efforts to encourage women to run and provide them the tools for a successful campaign.
GUESTS:
Erin Loos Cutraro, founder and CEO of She Should Run
Kelly Dittmar, associate professor of political science at the Universitry of Rutgers-Camden and director of Research at CAWP and CAWP Scholar
Brad Young, executive director of NC Institute of Political Leadership
