Democratic state legislatures will house the resistance to the Trump administration and represent the bench of future leaders of the party
WASHINGTON — The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is celebrating several milestones for women representation reached through our 2024 victories, as state Democrats successfully avoided the federal red wave and positioned themselves as the foundation of Democratic power under an incoming GOP federal trifecta. A record number of women will serve in state legislatures starting in 2025, many of whom will be in leadership positions. This comes as the number of women serving in Congress declined for the first time since 2016.
Some milestones from the 2024 state legislative cycle include:
- A record 1,584 seats will be held by Democratic women legislators starting in 2025. Notably, Democratic women legislators outnumber their Republican counterparts by a nearly 2:1 ratio.
- Women will serve in roughly one in three legislative seats across America.
- At least 19 states increased the total representation of women in their legislatures.
- Nearly 100 women will hold senior leadership positions.
- Democratic women will serve as House speakers in 8 states, including a historic first in Hawaii.
- For the first time in history, three states will have majority-women Democratic legislatures.
Electing Democrats to state legislatures consistently results in more diverse representation, which is particularly important given states are the foundation of resistance to the incoming Trump administration and create the bench of future leaders. The record number of women now serving in 2025 sessions will lead the fight to protect economic opportunity, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, education, climate progress, and so much more against the threats posed by Project 2025 and the incoming GOP federal trifecta.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Interim Communications Director Sam Paisley issued the following statement:
“Electing a record number of women to state legislatures couldn’t come at a more impactful time. Project 2025 and the incoming Trump administration dangerously target women and minorities, and states will represent the most powerful counterbalance to stop the MAGA hate from becoming the law of the land. Women deserve a seat at the table at all levels of government, and their growing numbers in state legislatures will impact policy today while building a strong pipeline of future leaders. Electing Democrats to state legislatures is the most powerful defense we have under the incoming federal GOP trifecta, and our work has ensured a powerful and diverse firewall is present in the states.”
The DLCC is the official arm of the Democratic Party with the sole mission of building Democratic power in the states and setting the national agenda at the state level. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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