From our friends at CAWP:
Women failed to gain ground in the 2011 state legislative elections, according to the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
“With legislative contests in four states, even if every outstanding race is decided in favor of a woman, the national total will drop from the current number of 1740,” observed CAWP director Debbie Walsh. “The national total of women elected statewide will increase by just one -- to 72 -- as a result of elections in three states. It’s discouraging that we’re nowhere near the peak statewide number of 92 women, achieved in 2000.”
CAWP's press release, "After Legislative Elections in Four States, Number of Women Remains Stuck," provides state by state details, including information about a notable influx of women of color in the New Jersey legislature.
LA's general election on the 19th will affect the number of women legislators. The Senate has 8 women in this term, is losing 3 of those and 1 other is in the general election. The Senate will have either 4 or 5 women.
The House has 15 women in this term & is losing 1 & has 6 seats in play in the general election, 1 being an incumbent (I'm doing from memory, so I could be off).
The House will have from 14 to 20 women.
Posted by: Alfred Speer | November 11, 2011 at 06:36 AM