Nov 16, 2018 - Politics & Policy

Women are breaking records for statehouse elections

Congresswomen

Representatives like Lucy McBath (D-GA) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA). Photo: Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images.

More than 2,000 women will serve in statehouses across the country, further extending this year’s reach of women in legislature positions, the AP reports.

Why it matters: Women will now represent roughly a quarter of all state lawmakers in the U.S., shattering the record of 1,875 who served in 2018. And that number is poised to grow: In Colorado and Nevada, women are expected to grab a majority of the lower legislative chambers, depending on final vote counts of uncalled races. Meanwhile, the AP has still not called 216 state legislative elections, "races that include about 185 female candidates." Go deeper: The new Democrats in DC

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