User:Nisuaz/Female state legislators in the United States

Lead
Women have served in state legislatures in the United States since 1895. Their ranks have increased with the advent of nationwide women's suffrage after 1920. Although the number of women serving in state legislatures has more than quintupled since 1971, they remain underrepresented. In 2023, women held less than half of the seats in state legislatures across the majority of states. Specifically, seven states —Oklahoma (19.2%), Louisiana (19.4%), Alabama (17.4%), South Carolina (14.8%), Mississippi (14.5%), Tennessee (14.4%), and West Virginia (11.9%)— had legislatures where women occupied less than 20% of the seats.

State Legislative Leadership
Leadership positions at the state legislatures include senate presidents, presidents pro tempore, house speakers, majority and minority leaders of the senate and house. In 2023, women held leadership positions in 35 state senates and in 32 state houses, which corresponds to 26% of 350 positions. 44 women (34D, 10R) serve in these leadership roles at State Senates and 47 (36D, 11R) serve at the State Houses. Nine states (AL, IN, KY, MS, NE, SC, SD, TX, WY) have no women in leadership positions.

Current Women Speakers of State Houses
There are 10 (9D, 1R) women currently serving as the speakers of State Houses.

Cathy Tilton (R-AK)

Julie McCluskie (D-CO)

Valerie Longhurst (D-DE)

Adrienne A. Jones (D-MD)

Rachel Talbot Ross (D-ME)

Melissa Hortman (D-MN)

Julie Fahey (D-OR)

Joanna McClinton (D-PA)

Jill Krowinski (D-VT)

Laurie Jinkins (D-WA)

Current Women Presidents or Presidents Pro Tem of Senates
15 (11D, 4R)

Kathleen Passidomo (R-FL)

Michelle Kidani (D-HI)

Amy Sinclair (R-IA)

Regina Ashford Barrow (D-LA)

Karen Spilka (D-MA)

Ann H. Rest (D-MN)

Shirley Turner (D-NJ)

Mimi Stewart (D-NM)

Pat Spearman (D-NV)

Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-NY)

Kim L. Ward (R-PA)

Hanna M. Gallo (D-RI)

Louise Lucas (D-VA)

Karen Keiser (D-WA)

Donna J. Boley (R-WV)

Female State Legislators by Race and Ethnicity
According to the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), 99 representatives identify as Asian American/Pacific Islander, 383 identify as Black, 192 identify as Latina, 14 identify as Middle Eastern/North African, 36 identify as Native American/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian, 3 identify as Multiracial Alone, and 1735 identify as white.