Women in State Legislative Leadership 2024

Summary information on women in state legislatures

Data as of March 2024

Leadership positions include: senate presidents and presidents pro tempore; house speakers and speakers pro tempore; majority and minority leaders of the senate and house as listed on each state legislature’s website. When the position of senate president is filled by the lieutenant governor, it is not included in these totals.

State Legislative Leadership
92
(73D, 19R)
26.3% of 350 positions

Women hold leadership positions in 35 state senates and in 34 state houses; in 9 states, women do not hold leadership positions in either chamber.

State Senate
45
(36D, 9R)
27.8% of 162 positions
State House/Assembly
47
(37D, 10R)
25% of 188 positions
Women in State Legislative Leadership By Race and Ethnicity

Women who self-identify as more than one race/ethnicity are included on CAWP pages for each group with which they identify. We strongly caution against adding totals from each racial/ethnic group should, as it will double count officeholders. 

Of the 92 women currently in state legislative leadership:

  • 3 identify as Asian American/Pacific Islander
  • 19* identify as Black
  • 10 identify as Latina
  • 63 identify as white

*In New York, the Senate President also serves as the Senate Majority Leader. As a result, Andrea Stewart-Cousins is counted twice here.

States with the Highest Percentages of Women in Leadership Positions
  • Nevada (71.4%)
    Vermont (66.7%)
    Illinois (50.0%)
    Maine (50.0%)
    Minnesota (50.0%)
    New York (42.9%)
    Washington (42.9%)

Of the top states for women leaders, IL, ME, NV, VT, and WA also rank in the top ten for the percentages of women serving in their legislatures.

Nine states have no women (0%) in leadership positions: AL, IN, KY, MS, NE, SC, SD, TX, WY.

Of the worst states for women leaders, AL, MS, SC, and WY ranked among the ten states with the lowest percentages of women in their state legislatures.

Leadership by Chamber

Senate President
3
(1D, 2R)
12% of 25 positions
Senate President Pro Tempore
12
27.3% of 44 positions
Senate Majority Leader
15
(12D, 3R)
32.6% of 46 positions
Senate Minority Leader
15
(13D, 2R)
32.6% of 46 positions
State Position First Name Middle Name Last Name Party Race/Ethnicity First Year of Service
FL Senate President Kathleen Passidomo R White 2023
IA Senate President Amy Sinclair R White 2023
MA Senate President Karen Spilka D White 2018
HI Senate President Pro Tempore Michelle N. Kidani D Asian American/Pacific Islander/Latina 2017
LA Senate President Pro Tempore Regina Ashford Barrow D Black 2024
MN Senate President Pro Tempore Ann H. Rest D White 2023
NJ Senate President Pro Tempore Shirley Turner D Black 2024
NM Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart D White 2021
NV Senate President Pro Tempore Pat Spearman D Black 2023
NY Senate President Pro Tempore Andrea Stewart-Cousins D Black 2019
PA Senate President Pro Tempore Kim L. Ward R White 2023
RI Senate President Pro Tempore Hanna M. Gallo D White 2021
VA Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas D Black 2020
WA Senate President Pro Tempore Karen Keiser D White 2018
WV Senate President Pro Tempore Donna J. Boley R White 2016
AK Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel R White 2023
CA Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez D Latina 2024
IL Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford D Black 2019
MA Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Stone Creem D White 2018
MD Senate Majority Leader Nancy J. King D White 2020
ME Senate Majority Leader Eloise Vitelli D White 2021
MI Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks D White 2023
MN Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy D White 2024
MO Senate Majority Leader Cindy O'Laughlin R White 2023
NH Senate Majority Leader Sharon M. Carson R White 2022
NJ Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz D Latina 2022
NV Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro D White 2019
NY Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins D Black 2019
OR Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber D White 2023
VT Senate Majority Leader Alison Clarkson D White 2021
AZ Senate Minority Leader Denise "Mitzi" Epstein D White 2023
FL Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book D White 2021
GA Senate Minority Leader Gloria Butler D Black 2021
IA Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum D White 2023
ID Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow D White 2023
KS Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes D White 2021
ND Senate Minority Leader Kathy Hogan D White 2023
NH Senate Minority Leader Donna Soucy D White 2021
NV Senate Minority Leader Heidi A. Seevers Gansert R White 2023
OH Senate Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio D White 2023
OK Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd D White 2019
RI Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz R Latina 2022
TN Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari D Black 2023
UT Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla D Latina 2023
WI Senate Minority Leader Diane H. Hesselbein D White 2023

In 24 states, president pro tempore is the top leadership post held by a senator, the lieutenant governor serves as senate president (AL, AR, CA, CT, DE, GA, ID, IN, MI, MS, MO, NE, NV, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, PA, SD, TX, VT, VA, WA).

*In New York, the Senate President also serves as the Senate Majority Leader.

Speaker of the House
10
(9D, 1R)
20% of 50 positions
House Speaker Pro Tempore
10
(6D, 4R)
20.8% of 48 positions
House Majority Leader
12
(11D, 1R)
26.7% of 45 positions
House Minority Leader
15
(11D, 4R)
32.6% of 46 positions
State Position First Name Middle Name Last Name Party Ethnicity First Year of Service
AK House Speaker Cathy Tilton R White 2023
CO House Speaker Julie McCluskie D White 2023
DE House Speaker Valerie Longhurst D White 2023
MD House Speaker Adrienne Jones D Black 2019
ME House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross D Black 2023
MN House Speaker Melissa Hortman D White 2019
OR House Speaker Julie Fahey D White 2024
PA House Speaker Joanna E. McClinton D Black 2023
VT House Speaker Jill Krowiniski D White 2021
WA House Speaker Laurie Jinkins D White 2020
CT* House Speaker Pro Tem Minnie Gonzalez D Latina 2021
CT* House Speaker Pro Tem Mary Mushinsky D White 2020
GA House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Slaughter Jones R White 2023
MA House Speaker Pro Tem Kate Hogan D White 2021
MI House Speaker Pro Tem Laurie Pohutsky D White 2023
MT House Speaker Pro Tem Rhonda Knudsen R White 2023
NC House Speaker Pro Tem Sarah Stevens R White 2017
NH House Speaker Pro Tem Laurie Sanborn R White 2023
NV House Speaker Pro Tem Daniele Monroe-Moreno D Black 2023
WA House Speaker Pro Tem Tina Orwall D White 2021
CA House Majority Leader Cecilia M. Aguilar-Curry D Latina 2023
CO House Majority Leader Monica Duran D Latina 2023
DE House Majority Leader Melissa Minor-Brown D Black 2023
HI House Majority Leader Nadine Nakamura D Asian American/Pacific Islander 2023
IL House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel D White 2023
ME House Majority Leader Maureen Fitzgerald Terry D White 2023
MT House Majority Leader Sue Vinton R White 2021
NM House Majority Leader Gail Chasey D White 2023
NV House Majority Leader Sandra Jauregui D Latina 2023
NY House Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes D Black 2019
VA House Majority Leader Charniele Herring D Black 2024
VT House Majority Leader Emily Long D White 2021
AR House Minority Leader Tippi McCullough D White 2021
FL House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell D Black 2023
HI House Minority Leader Lauren Matsumoto R White 2023
IA House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst D White 2021
ID House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel D White 2020
IL House Minority Leader Tony McCombie R White 2023
MN House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth R Black/White 2023
MO House Minority Leader Crystal Quade D White 2019
MT House Minority Leader Kim Abbott D White 2021
OH House Minority Leader C. Allison Russo D White 2022
OK House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson D Asian American/Pacific Islander/White 2023
TN House Minority Leader Karen Camper D Black 2019
UT House Minority Leader Angela Romero D Latina 2023
VT House Minority Leader Patricia McCoy R White 2019
WI House Minority Leader Greta Neubauer D White 2022

*In CT and MN there are multiple speakers pro tempore.

History of Leadership Positions

The first woman senate president was Vesta Roy (R-NH). The first woman to serve as speaker of a state house was Minnie Davenport Craig (R-ND).

State senator Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI) was the first woman of color and the first Asian Pacific Islander woman to lead either chamber of a state legislature; she served as Hawaii's Senate president from 2007-2011. Sara Gideon was the first Asian Pacific Islander to serve as a House Speaker, serving from 2017 to 2020. Karen Bass (D-CA) was the first woman of color and first Black woman to serve as a House speaker, leading California's Assembly from 2008-2010. Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-NY) was the first Black woman to lead a State Senate, serving as Senate President Pro Tem from 2019 to today.  Margarita Prentice (D-WA) was the first Latina to lead a Senate chamber, serving as Senate President Pro Tem from 2011 to 2012. Crisanta Duran (D-CO) was the first Latina to serve as a House Speaker, serving from 2017 to 2019.  In 2013, Tina Kotek (D-OR) became the country's first openly lesbian state House speaker, she served until her election to Governor in 2022.

Women in State Legislative Leadership Summary by State
State Rank Total Women Leaders (%) Senate Majority Party Senate Women Leaders/All Leaders (%) House Majority Party House Women Leaders/All Leaders (%)
AK 14 2/6 (33.3%) R 1/3 (33.3%) R 1/3 (33.3%)
AL 42 0/7 (0.0%) R 0/3 (0.0%) R 0/4 (0.0%)
AR 36 1/7 (14.3%) R 0/3 (0.0%) R 1/4 (25.0%)
AZ 38 1/8 (12.5%) R 1/4 (25.0%) R 0/4 (0.0%)
CA 22 2/7 (28.6%) D 1/3 (33.3%) D 1/4 (25.0%)
CO 27 2/8 (25.0%) D 0/4 (0.0%) D 2/4 (50.0%)
CT 41 2/17 (11.8%) D 0/3 (0.0%) D 2/14 (14.3%)
DE 14 2/6 (33.3%) D 0/3 (0.0%) D 2/3 (66.7%)
FL 8 3/8 (37.5%) R 2/4 (50.0%) R 1/4 (25.0%)
GA 22 2/7 (28.6%) R 1/3 (33.3%) R 1/4 (25.0%)
HI 8 3/8 (37.5%) D 1/4 (25.0%) D 2/4 (50.0%)
IA 8 3/8 (37.5%) R 2/4 (50.0%) R 1/4 (25.0%)
ID 14 2/6 (33.3%) R 1/3 (33.3%) R 1/3 (33.3%)
IL 3 3/6 (50.0%) D 1/3 (33.3%) D 2/3 (66.7%)
IN 42 0/7 (0.0%) R 0/3 (0.0%) R 0/4 (0.0%)
KS 38 1/8 (12.5%) R 1/4 (25.0%) R 0/4 (0.0%)
KY 42 0/8 (0%) R 0/4 (0.0%) R 0/4 (0.0%)
LA 27 1/4 (25.0%) R 1/2 (50.0%) R 0/2 (0.0%)
MA 8 3/8 (37.5%) D 2/4 (50.0%) D 1/4 (25.0%)
MD 27 2/8 (25.0%) D 1/4 (25.0%) D 1/4 (25.0%)
ME 3 3/6 (50.0%) D 1/3 (33.3%) D 2/3 (66.7%)
MI 14 2/6 (33.3%) D 1/3 (33.3%) D 1/3 (33.3%)
MN 3 4/8 (50.0%) D 2/4 (50.0%) D 2/4 (50.0%)
MO 22 2/7 (28.6%) R 1/3 (33.3%) R 1/4 (25.0%)
MS 42 0/3 (0.0%) R 0/1 (0.0%) R 0/2 (0.0%)
MT 8 3/8 (37.5%) R 0/4 (0.0%) R 3/4 (75.0%)
NC 36 1/7 (14.3%) R 0/3 (0.0%) R 1/4 (25.0%)
ND 35 1/6 (16.7%) R 1/3 (33.3%) R 0/3 (0.0%)
NE 42 0/1 (0.0%) NP 0/1 (0.0%) NP Unicameral
NH 8 3/8 (37.5%) R 2/4 (50.0%) R 1/4 (25.0%)
NJ 27 2/8 (25.0%) D 2/4 (50.0%) D 0/4 (0.0%)
NM 14 2/6 (33.3%) D 1/3 (33.3%) D 1/3 (33.3%)
NV 1 5/7 (71.4%) D 3/3 (100.0%) D 2/4 (50.0%)
NY 6 3/7 (42.9%) D 2/3 (66.7%) D 1/4 (25.0%)
OH 27 2/8 (25.0%) R 1/4 (25.0%) R 1/4 (25.0%)
OK 22 2/7 (28.6%) R 1/3 (33.3%) R 1/4 (25.0%)
OR 27 2/8 (25.0%) D 1/4 (25.0%) D 1/4 (25.0%)
PA 14 2/6 (33.3%) R 1/3 (33.3%) D 1/3 (33.3%)
RI 27 2/8 (25.0%) D 2/4 (50.0%) D 0/4 (0.0%)
SC 42 0/7 (0.0%) R 0/3 (0.0%) R 0/4 (0.0%)
SD 42 0/7 (0.0%) R 0/3 (0.0%) R 0/4 (0.0%)
TN 22 2/7 (28.6%) R 1/3 (33.3%) R 1/4 (25.0%)
TX 42 0/3 (0.0%) R 0/1 (0.0%) R 0/2 (0.0%)
UT 14 2/6 (33.3%) R 1/3 (33.3%) R 1/3 (33.3%)
VA 14 2/6 (33.3%) D 1/3 (33.3%) D 1/3 (33.3%)
VT 2 4/6 (66.7%) D 1/3 (33.3%) D 3/3 (100.0%)
WA 6 3/7 (42.9%) D 1/3 (33.3%) D 2/4 (50.0%)
WI 27 2/8 (25.0%) R 1/4 (25.0%) R 1/4 (25.0%)
WV 38 1/8 (12.5%) R 1/4 (25.0%) R 0/4 (0.0%)
WY 42 0/8 (0.0%) R 0/4 (0.0%) R 0/4 (0.0%)
Totals 92/350 (26.3%) 45/162 (27.8) 47/188 (25.0)

Rank is for leadership positions only and is based on combined senate and house figures. States with the exact same percentages are given the same rank; states with no women in leadership positions share the rank of 42.