Facts About Women Legislators

This past election was an exciting election for elected woman. New Mexico, South Carolina, and Oklahoma all elected women as governors for the first time. At all levels, more women ran for office this year than any year in the past.

Congress:

In 2011, women hold 89 of 535 seats (16.6%) in United States Congress. Seventeen of those seats are in the Senate and 72 are in the House of Representatives. Congresswomen Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is the top ranking member of the minority Democratic Party.

Statewide Elective Executive:

In 2011, women hold 68 of 315 (21.6 %) available statewide executive positions. For the first time ever, there were governor races that consisted of two women running against each other from the two major parties. There are 6 female Governors, 11 female Lieutenant Governors, 6 female Attorney Generals and 10 female Secretary of States.

  • Women in Elective Office
    Fact sheet with current numbers and percentage of women elected officials in U.S. Congress, statewide elective executive offices, state legislatures and municipal offices. Also includes summary of percentages of women in office at various levels from 1979 to current.

State Legislature:

For 2011, women will make up 1,718 of 7,382 (23.3%) state legislators in the United States. Since 1971, the number of women serving in state legislatures has more than quintupled.

* Research conducted by the Center for American Women and Politics, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University.