For the first time, Colorado and New Mexico will see women forming the majority in their state legislatures next year. A record number of women, at least 2,450, will serve in state legislatures nationwide, marking 33.2% representation, slightly surpassing the previous high of 2,431 set in 2024. Kelly Dittmar, director of research at CAWP, expressed a desire for "a faster rate of change." And despite this historic shift, a report from the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics reveals that female representation in at least 13 states declined following this month's elections.
The numbers highlight disparities within party lines, with Republican women achieving a record 851 seats (up from 2024's high of 815 seats), yet remaining significantly underrepresented compared to Democratic women, as noted by CAWP's Debbie Walsh. Noteworthy increases occurred in New Mexico, with 11 additional female lawmakers, and in Colorado, where women will slightly outnumber men. Nevada, which led this trend in 2018, will see women make up nearly 62% of its legislature next year.
Conversely, South Carolina experienced the steepest decline, with women making up just 13% of the state legislature. Only two women, both Democrats, will be in its 46-member Senate. South Carolina ranks just above West Virginia, where women's representation in the legislature will dip to approximately 11%. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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