CAWP added Middle Eastern/North African as a category of self-identification in our data collection starting in 2019, limiting our ability to report historical information about this group of women. For more information on CAWP’s historic and current collection of race/ethnicity data, please see our methodological statement. For more information on historical milestones in women’s political representation, please see CAWP’s “Milestones for Women in American Politics.”
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. To conduct more detailed calculations, users should refer to CAWP’s Women Elected Officials Database or contact CAWP staff directly.
The U.S. Census does not currently collect data on Middle Eastern/North African ethnic identification among the U.S. population, making it hard to compare representation among women officeholders with the general population.
Federal Elective Executive
0.2% of all voting members of Congress identify as Middle Eastern/North African women.
0.7% of all women voting members of Congress identify as Middle Eastern/North African.
U.S. Delegates are non-voting members and are not included in our total counts.
0.02% of all members of Congress to date have identified as Middle Eastern/North African women.
0.7% of all women who have served in Congress to date have identified as Middle Eastern/North African.
U.S. Delegates are non-voting members and are not included in our total counts.
0% of all statewide elective executives identify as Middle Eastern/North African women.
0% of all women statewide elective executives identify as Middle Eastern/North African.
No Middle Eastern/North African woman has ever served as governor.
0.2% of all state legislators identify as Middle Eastern/North African women.
0.6% of all women state legislators identify as Middle Eastern/North African.
Mayors – Top 100 Most Populous Cities
0% of all mayors in top 100 most populous cities identify as Middle Eastern/North African women.
0% of all women mayors in top 100 most populous cities identify as Middle Eastern/North African.