Women in State Legislatures 2008

There are currently 1,751 women legislators serving in the 50 states. Women hold 23.7 percent of legislative seats in the 50 states, a ratio that has increased only slightly over the past ten years. Thirty women serve in the legislative bodies of the District of Columbia and the U.S. Territories.

Map of the number of women in state legislatures, 2008

Map of the percentage of women in state legislatures, 2008

(Note: Data current as of 5/20/2008. Subject to change due to resignations, appointments and special elections.)

Women in Legislative Leadership: 2008

Women Serving in the Fifty States

State

Number of Women Legislators in the House / Assembly

Number of Women Legislators in the Senate

Total Number of Women Legislators

Total Seats in the Legislature

Percentage of Women in the Legislature

Alabama

14

4

18

140

12.9%

Alaska

10

3

13

60

21.7%

Arizona

17

13

30

90

33.3%

Arkansas

22

6

28

135

20.7%

California

23

10

33

120

27.5%

Colorado

26

10

36

100

36.0%

Connecticut

45

8

53

187

28.3%

Delaware

12

7

19

62

30.6%

Florida

27

10

37

160

23.1%

Georgia

38

8

46

236

19.5%

Hawaii

18

7

25

76

32.9%

Idaho

19

6

25

105

23.8%

Illinois

35

13

48

177

27.1%

Indiana

16

12

28

150

18.7%

Iowa

28

6

34

150

22.7%

Kansas

35

13

48

165

29.1%

Kentucky

13

5

18

138

13.0%

Louisiana

13

8

21

144

14.6%

Maine

47

12

59

186

31.7%

Maryland

48

11

59

188

31.4%

Massachusetts

39

12

51

200

25.5%

Michigan

20

9

29

148

19.6%

Minnesota

43

27

70

201

34.8%

Mississippi

21

4

25

174

14.4%

Missouri

33

7

40

197

20.3%

Montana

28

9

37

150

24.7%

Nebraska

Unicameral

9

9

49

18.4%

Nevada

13

6

19

63

30.2%

New Hampshire

141

10

151

424

35.6%

New Jersey

25

9

34

120

28.3%

New Mexico

22

12

34

112

30.4%

New York

39

11

50

212

23.6%

North Carolina

38

7

45

170

26.5%

North Dakota

18

6

24

141

17.0%

Ohio

18

5

23

132

17.4%

Oklahoma

12

7

19

149

12.8%

Oregon

19

10

29

90

32.2%

Pennsylvania

27

10

37

253

14.6%

Rhode Island

15

7

22

113

19.5%

South Carolina

13

2

15

170

8.8%

South Dakota

13

5

18

105

17.1%

Tennessee

15

8

23

132

17.4%

Texas

31

4

35

181

19.3%

Utah

16

4

20

104

19.2%

Vermont

59

10

69

180

38.3%

Virginia

15

8

23

140

16.4%

Washington

32

20

52

147

35.4%

West Virginia

17

2

19

134

14.2%

Wisconsin

22

8

30

132

22.7%

Wyoming

17

4

21

90

23.3%

TOTAL

1,327

424

1,751

7,382

23.7%

Partisan Composition of Women in the 50 State Legislatures, 2008

Democratic Party 1,199

Republican Party 537

Third Party 6

Nonpartisan (Nebraska) 9

Women Serving in U.S. Territories and the District of Columbia

Legislative Body Women in the House Women in the Senate / Council Total Number of Women Legislators Total Seats in the Legislature Percentage of Women in the Legislature

American Samoa Legislature 2 0 2 39 5.1%

District of Columbia Council Unicameral 4 4 13 30.8%

Guam Legislature Unicameral 3 3 15 20.0%

Puerto Rico Legislature 8 6 14 78 17.9%

Virgin Islands Legislature Unicameral 1 1 15 6.7%

Total 10 14 24 160 15.0%

Contact Katie Ziegler for more information, (303) 364-7700.

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