The League of Women Voters of Clearwater are hosting the “Elect Her” FREE workshop on Oct. 21 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the St. Petersburg College Clearwater Campus. This is a leadership training opportunity to help train women to run for office.

Women’s representation in elected office has seen steady, incremental progress globally and nationally, though significant gaps remain before reaching full gender equality.

In the United States, women represent more than 50% of the population but occupy less than 30% of elected offices across federal and state levels. In the U.S. House of Representatives 28.5% (124 women hold seats as of April 2026).

Jeannette Rankin became the first female legislator in 1917. California leads historically with 50 total women elected to the House. U.S. Senate 25% (25 women currently serving). Hattie Wyatt Caraway was the first woman elected to a full term (1932). Nancy Kassebaum (1978) was the first elected without a prior spousal connection.

In State Legislatures 33.6% average across all states.

Nevada leads the country with 62% female representation in its legislature. New Hampshire is the only state to have achieved overall gender parity in its history.

Impact of Women in legislative office shows that increased female representation fundamentally changes legislative outputs and priorities.

U.S. state legislatures with higher percentages of women introduce and enact significantly more legislation overall than those with lower representation.

Female lawmakers heavily influence voting patterns and bill sponsorship, frequently championing issues like healthcare access (maternal and mental health), community infrastructure (childcare, human trafficking prevention), and workforce development.Local Governance: A prominent study by UN Women noted that women-led local councils in India implemented 62% more drinking water projects than those led by men, showcasing a direct shift toward essential community resources.

To register, visit the Elect Her webpage.