RepresentWomen is dedicated to researching and identifying best practices for increasing women’s political representation, drawing on global evidence. Since 2021, our ongoing Country Brief series has explored how electoral rules and systems shape opportunities for women in politics across different regions (Post-Soviet States) (Arab States) (Latin America) (Oceania) (European Union). The North America Brief, the sixth installment in this series, is unique as it solely focuses on Canada, the United States, and Mexico, with the goal of highlighting how their electoral systems impact women’s political representation.
While all three countries exceed the global average for women’s representation, Mexico stands out as a world leader. In 2024, it elected its first woman president, achieved near-parity among governors, and maintained gender parity in its legislature. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (February 2025), Mexico ranks fourth globally for women’s representation in its lower house—far ahead of Canada (69th) and the U.S. (79th).
Our research shows that women’s representation thrives when systems both increase the number of women in politics (e.g., through candidate quotas or candidate recruitment targets) AND ensure proportional representation (PR). Mexico is the only country in the region with both a gender quota ("parity system") and a mixed-member proportional voting system. In contrast, Canada and the U.S. have retained their winner-take-all voting systems, which our research has shown limits competition, reinforces incumbency advantages, and yields fewer opportunities for women to run viable campaigns and win elections.
The North America Brief highlights the impact of intentional reforms and structural changes in advancing women’s political representation. As Canada and the U.S. continue to debate electoral reform, Mexico’s success offers valuable insights into the power of systemic change.
