The share of women holding state legislative seats across the country reached 20% following the 1992 election. It took 26 more years for that number to climb past 25%. The National Conference of State Legislatures breaks down the numbers:
By the Numbers
- 1,866: Female legislators in the 50 states
- 1,141: Democrats
- 704: Republicans
- 8: Third party
- 13: Nonpartisan
- 66: Female leaders in the 50 states
- 18.9%: Leaders who are women
- 44: Democratic leaders
- 22: Republican leaders
- 6: House speakers
- 3: Senate presidents
States with the highest percentage of female legislators:
- Arizona, 41.1%
- Vermont, 40%
- Nevada, 39.7%
- Colorado, 38%
- Washington, 37.4%
- Illinois, 35%
- Maine, 33.9%
- Minnesota, 32.3%
- Oregon, 32.2%
- Maryland, 31.9%