14% of U.S. Senators, 18% of current Governors are women

by MadProfessah, Sat Dec 04, 2004 at 02:21:46 PM EST

Inspired by vpltz's diary showing that less than 25% of state legislative seats are held by women I decided to take a look at other female officeholders: Senators and Governors.

Current Female Governors (Dec 2004)
Blanco (D-LA)
Minner (D-DE)
Granholm (D-MI)
Lingle (R-HI)
Martz (R-MT) (lame-duck)
Napolitano (D-AZ)
Rell (R-CT) (assumed office after resignation)
Sebelius (D-KS)
Walker (R-UT) (lame-duck)

When Gregoire wins the recount in Washington State and is sworn in 2005 (fingers crossed!) there will be 8 female governors (Blanco, Minner, Granholm, Gregoire, Lingle(R), Napolitano, Rell(R) and Sebelius) at the time, raising the percentage to 16%.

Female Senators in the 110th Congress (Jan 2005)
Boxer (D-CA)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Collins (R-ME)
Dole (R-NC)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Landrieu (R-LA)
Lincoln (R-AR)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Murray (D-WA)
Snowe (R-ME)
Stabenow (D-MI)

If only women could vote, Kerry would have won the popular vote by over 7 million votes. Other pundits like Matthew Miller have noted, women are generally more progressive than men.

Interestingly, the United States Senate in the 110th Congress will have 14 women, 2 Asian-Americans (Inouye, Akaka), 2 Latino (Martinez, Salazar) and 1 African-American (Obama), indicating that diversity is starting to trickle into the "world's most exclusive club."

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Senators wrong

Where did you get that info. Landrieu and Lincoln are Democrats.

by tchoup 2004-12-04 03:30PM | 0 recs

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2 typos... (Landrieu and Lincoln are Democrats)

Of the 14 Senators, only 5 are Republican (Snowe, Collins, Hutchison, Murkoswki and Dole).

9 are Democrats (Boxer, Clinton, Cantwell, Feinstein, Landrieu, Lincoln, Mikulski, Murray and Stabenow).

I think when I was typing in Landrieu and Lincoln I thought red state and put R's next to their names mistakenly.

What's interesting is the overlap between the female senators and female governors...

Louisiana and Michigan currently have Female Governors and Senators serving simultaneously... Washington may join that group.

Any female Gubernatorial Candidates in Maine?

by MadProfessah 2004-12-04 03:46PM | 0 recs

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Also interesting

The dems are pro-choice. Snowe, Collins I think are but not sure of theothers. I would think Dole is not though. I believe the Republicans will have a hard time fielding female candidates. Does anyone agree? Democrats seem to be beating them in numbers in any case.

by tchoup 2004-12-04 03:57PM | 0 recs

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Re: Also pro-choice

methinks Kay Bailey Hutchinson,
Republicant in Texas, is pro-choice,
but I'm SURE she keeps her views
on the down low.

by Woody 2004-12-05 11:37AM | 0 recs

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Forgot

Forgot my real comment which that all doesn't seem so bad. I mean if you go back not so many years their were very not many women. Governors was particulary bad most were brought through the back door when the male governor died. Few were elected in their own right. I am a male member of Emily's List. Don't know how many of those there are. I mostly support more women because men need them around to keep them honest.

by tchoup 2004-12-04 03:49PM | 0 recs

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Re: Female voters only

Yes Kerry would have won the popular vote, but he STILL would have lost the electoral college. Only Iowa (7 votes) and Nevada (5 votes) would have changed hands if men couldn't vote. Virginia would have been a narrow (less than 1 point) Bush carry, as would New Mexico, but Bush STILL would have won 274-264. Now if women couldn't vote, Bush would have picked up: Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Michigan, Wisconsin, Washington State, and Oregon, leading to a landslide 379-159 victory. The GOP stranglehold on male voters is much bigger than the Dem hold on female voters, obviously.

by mboyle1988 2004-12-17 05:33AM | 0 recs

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Re Senators etc.

In 2006, I think we as humans need to get more women of either party into office. 14% is not acceptable. I mean, we need like 40 or 50, but, for now, 20 is a good number.

by mboyle1988 2004-12-17 05:34AM | 0 recs