Utah sees record number of women state lawmakers
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The Utah Legislature is set to welcome a record number of women lawmakers when it convenes for the 2025 session, according to a new analysis.
The big picture: The Legislature will gain three more women, raising the total to 31, or about 30% of its 104 members, per Rutgers' Center for American Women and Politics.
Why it matters: Utah consistently ranks dead last among states for women's equality.
- Women are largely underrepresented in elected offices across the state.
- Women in Utah also face a more significant wage gap than the rest of the country, per the Utah Department of Workforce Services, earning 72% of what men make.
- The pay inequity is most evident between men and women holding bachelor's degrees.
Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson and State Auditor-elect Tina Cannon, the first woman elected state auditor, will be the sole women serving in statewide executive office next year.
Zoom out: Nationwide, women will hold a record number of state legislative seats next year, filling about a third of seats.
- The most notable increases were in New Mexico and Colorado, where women will make up most lawmakers for the first time, AP reports.
By the numbers: 19 states will increase the number of women in their state legislatures in 2025, according to the center.
- The GOP is also set to break its record from last year, with at least 851 women in office in 2025.
Yes, but: The uptick was small. And at least 13 states saw losses in female representation.
What's next: Utah's 45-day legislative session begins Jan. 21.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show Deidre Henderson isn't the first woman to be lieutenant governor in Utah.