By the Numbers: Women in Elective Office 2016

In the 114th United States Congress, women hold

  • 104, or 19.4 percent of the 535 seats
  • 20, or 20 percent, of the 100 seats in the Senate
  • 84, or 19.3 percent of the seats in the House of Representatives

Statewide Elective Executive Officers

  • 75 women hold statewide elective offices across the country
  • Women hold 24 percent of the 312 positions available.
  • Six governors, 12 lieutenant governors and 57 in other elective offices, including attorneys general, secretaries of state, and state treasurers are women

State Legislatures

  • 1,815, or 24.6 percent, of the 7,383 state representatives are women
  • Women hold 446, or 22.6 percent, of the 1,972 state senate seats
  • Women hold 1,369, or 25.3 percent, of the 5,411 state house seats

In 1971, women were 3 percent of the U.S. Congress and 7 percent of statewide elective offices, including governors, lieutenant governors, attorneys general, secretaries of state, and state treasurers.

In 2016, women are 19.4 percent of the US Congress, 24.4 percent of statewide elective offices, and 24.6 percent of state legislatures.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose: in the light of the progress of the past 45 years, women continue to remain underrepresented in elective office.

(Source: Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers Eagleton Institute of Politics http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/)


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