Women in State Legislatures
After the 2014 election, not a single state has gender parity in its state legislature. The legislative chamber closest to parity in the nation is the Colorado House of Representatives, with 46% female legislators. In November 2014, 50 female candidates ran for the 65 seats in the Colorado House of Representatives and 30 were elected. Not surprisingly, Colorado ranked first for the proportion of women in its state legislature, with 42.0% female state legislators in January 2015. Ranked lowest was Louisiana, at 12.5%. In 1993, the range was from 39.5% (Washington) to 5.1% (Kentucky) — showing advances for the lowest-ranking states, but less improvement for states at the top.
Our data on women in state and national government is sourced from of the Center for American Women and Politics (January 2015).
Our data on women in state and national government is sourced from of the Center for American Women and Politics (January 2015).
First Female State Representative
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Clara Cressingham, Frances Klock and Carrie C. Holly of Colorado were the first women elected to a state legislature, the Colorado House of Representatives. These women focused on social welfare issues and pushed reforms for child labor laws, relief subsidies and the 8-hour work day.
Women's Representation in State Legislatures by State, Jan 2015
This information is sourced from the Center for American Women and Politics (May 2014).