Women in U.S. Politics: A Comprehensive Overview

The representation of women in high political office in the United States has been a topic of discussion for many years. According to a recent report by Pew Research Center, 53% of Americans believe there are still too few women in top political positions. The report explores the views of Americans on gender and political leadership, as well as the barriers women face in politics.

The data shows that the number of women in the U.S. Senate has been increasing over the years. In the 118th Congress in 2023, there were 25 women serving in the Senate, just shy of the record 26 women senators in the previous Congress. Of these women, 16 are Democrats and nine are Republicans. However, there are currently no Black women serving in the Senate.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, 124 women were voting members in the 118th Congress, making up 28.5% of the chamber’s voting membership. The first woman to be elected to Congress was Jeannette Rankin in 1917, and Nancy Pelosi is the only woman to have served as speaker of the House.

In state legislatures, women make up 29.9% of state senate seats and 33.7% of state house or assembly seats. Nevada currently has the largest percentage of women in its state legislature, at 62%, while West Virginia has the smallest share at 11.9%.

The report also looks at women in other leadership positions, such as governors, Cabinet-level positions, Fortune 500 CEOs, Fortune 500 board members, and college and university presidents. The data shows that the representation of women in these positions has been increasing over time, but there is still progress to be made in achieving gender parity in leadership roles.

Overall, the report highlights the progress that has been made in increasing the representation of women in political and leadership positions in the United States, but also underscores the continued need for more women to be in high office.