Moms are missing at the legislation table in Texas
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Moms of small children remain vastly underrepresented in state capitols across the country, including in Texas, according to a new report.
Why it matters: State legislatures shape policies that directly impact families.
- "If you don't have parents with young children helping set the legislative agenda, you're missing a whole segment of the population, and their lived experiences are not being brought to bear on decisions that are being made," Jean Sinzdak, associate director of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), told Axios.
The big picture: An estimated 85% of women become mothers by the time they hit 45. But, as of 2024, just 25% of legislators nationwide were female parents or nonbinary parents, the analysis from the Vote Mama Foundation found.
- Just 8% are mothers with children under 18.
Zoom in: In Texas, nearly 5% of legislators were moms or nonbinary parents with minor children as of last year, per the report.
Between the lines: Serving in a state legislature can be especially difficult for parents of young children, given the need to travel to a state capital, long nights of lawmaking, and low pay in states where the job is considered part-time, Sinzdak told Axios.
- Lawmakers in the Lone Star State technically work part-time and earn $600 per month in addition to a per diem during the session.
The fine print: Because the study's authors based their data on publicly available bios and news reports, the actual number of mothers and caregivers may be higher than reported.