2026 Democracy Solutions Summit, Day 2: Where We Are

The Democracy Solutions Summit brings together leading researchers, policymakers, elected officials, and movement leaders to examine one central question: how can democratic systems be designed to expand women’s political power?Hosted by RepresentWomen, the Summit is now in its fifth year and remains the only democracy-focused summit in the United States featuring an entire program of women panelists and moderators, highlighting the expertise and leadership women bring to strengthening democratic institutions.At a moment when democracies around the world face growing challenges — from declining trust in institutions to rising threats against women in public life — the Summit convenes national and international leaders to explore the structural reforms needed to build more representative and resilient systems of governance.The 2026 theme, “Women’s Power by Design,” focuses on the institutional choices that shape political representation from constitutional protections and voting rights to leadership pipelines and electoral reforms.The second day focuses on the current moment — examining the structural barriers women face today, including political violence, institutional trust, and global comparisons in women’s leadership.