Race
Race
While all women are underrepresented in elected office, women of color face additional barriers.
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Women of color make up 19 percent of the U.S. population, but only make up:
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8.8% of members of Congress
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4.5% of statewide elected executives
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7.4% of state legislators
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10.0% of mayors in 100 largest cities
The degree to which women of color are underrepresented makes it harder to increase their representation because of the huge advantage that incumbent candidates have over challengers in the majority of elections.
There is hope for the representation of women of color moving forward. In November 2016, nine newly elected Congresswomen were women of color, leading to a total of 38 women of color holding seats in the U.S. House of Representatives - an all time record. This upward trajectory is great news for our national progress towards gender parity.
Check out our Milestones page to learn more about women breaking barriers throughout history.
Check out the Center for American Women and Politics to learn more about elected women of color.