Across the U.S., Latinas Reach Historic High in State Legislative Seats

The representation of Latinas in state legislatures has reached new heights, with 214 women now holding seats across the country. This marks an increase from 192 in 2024, according to the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP). The surge in numbers reflects a broader trend of increased diversity among women in political roles.

In addition to Latinas, women of various racial backgrounds, including Black, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native American, are also seeing record representation. Kelly Dittmar, director of research at CAWP, highlighted that unlike congressional levels, state legislative elections showed a net gain in women’s representation in 2024. “When we’re seeing these gains, they’re coming among racially and ethnically diverse women,” she stated.

Interestingly, the only demographic to see a decline in representation this year was white women. The increasing presence of Latinas in state houses aligns with a significant trend: nearly half of newly eligible voters in 2024 were Latinx, and Latinas typically vote at higher rates than their peers.

Dittmar noted that early data suggests a 12 percent increase in the Latinx voting population last year, paralleling the uptick in Latina representation. “The more Latinos we have who are politically both eligible and engaged, the more likely it is that we’re going to see greater representation,” she explained.

Within the 214 Latina legislators, a majority are Democrats (182), while 31 identify as Republicans, and one is nonpartisan. This group now constitutes 2.9 percent of state legislative seats, compared to 9.6 percent of the population they represent. Gains among Black and AAPI women were predominantly attributed to Democratic representatives, contrasting with the diverse achievements seen in Latina legislators across party lines.

Dittmar noted the increasing partisanship diversity among newly elected Latinas, a trend not as evident among Republican women who generally dominated the net gains within the legislative landscape. This year, there has also been a notable increase in Native women in state legislatures, with 44 currently serving, up from 36 last year.

Furthermore, AAPI women in similar roles reached a record of 107, surpassing last year’s total of 100. Black women, who have led political gains among marginalized groups, now total 399 members in state legislatures, an increase of 13.
“We’re seeing more and more diversity in terms of race and ethnicity,” Dittmar remarked. “It brings more perspectives and lived experiences to the table, moving us closer to the representation promised in a democracy.”