Ohio elects more women as state lawmakers
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Women will fill a record number of state legislative seats across America in 2025, with the Ohio Statehouse set to add several newcomers, per research from Rutgers' Center for American Women and Politics.
Why it matters: Women didn't break the highest glass ceiling in U.S. politics this year, the presidency, but the data still shows our government's gender gap is gradually narrowing.
- There's still much work to be done to achieve parity at all levels, though.
State of play: The Ohio General Assembly will add seven more women next term, the third-highest gain of any state.
- About 34% of Ohio's 132 legislative seats will be filled by women, putting the state in line with the national average.
Between the lines: The gap remains wider in other areas. Among Ohio's municipal governments with populations over 10,000, such as city councils, representation is about 29%, Rutgers' data shows.
- Representation is lowest in our state's most prominent, public-facing positions. Thirteen of our 17 U.S. House and Senate seats currently belong to men, plus all six state executive offices.
Case in point: Ohio has never had a woman U.S. senator, though that could change when Gov. Mike DeWine appoints Sen. JD Vance's replacement.
- Columbus has also never had a woman mayor.
The big picture: A record number of women will serve as governors next year, but Ohio hasn't joined that wave.
- In 221 years of state history, Ohio has had a woman governor for just 11 days — when Lt. Gov. Nancy Hollister temporarily filled the role.
- Former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley lost to DeWine in the last gubernatorial election in 2022.
Groups across Ohio are working to increase representation of women in government, especially at the local level.
Zoom in: The Matriots PAC, for example, has endorsed winning candidates in over 300 races since its creation in 2017, per its website.
- The nonpartisan group says it endorses women "who share our values regardless of political party."
- It most often supports Democrats, but endorsed state Sen. Stephanie Kunze (R-Dublin) in 2020.
Another group, Ohio Women in Government, focuses more on professional development and policy analysis.
- President Brittany Boulton likens the nonprofit's work to building a "farm team" of future state leaders.
- Recent efforts include offering a mentorship program and fundraising for student scholarships, since state government internships are unpaid.
What they're saying: "The more women that are at the table in every level of government, the more comfort people will have, in general, accepting that as a norm," the group's vice president Julia Wynn tells Axios.
The bottom line: While the country didn't elect a woman president this year, it's "a great time to dig our heels in and continue the struggle till we get there," Boulton says.