Women Become Majority in New Hampshire State Senate

Brad Haynes reports on state legislatures. While Hillary Clinton ’s run for president came short of shattering the “highest, hardest glass ceiling,” lawmakers in the first primary state she won have crossed a boundary of their own. The New Hampshire state senate is the first state legislative body in the country’s history with a female majority, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Female ranks in the 24-member chamber grew from 10 to 13 of the 24. Nationally, less than one in four legislators is female. Just 16% of the members of Congress are women, but their numbers grew overnight, with another dozen women on their way to Washington for the 111th Congress. Governors’ mansions across the country have the ratio of female occupants — 8 of 50 — and now another just female governor has been elected in North Carolina. Jonathan Parker , political director for Emily’s List, which works to elect pro-choice Democratic women, said he ... (link)