The new year brings a mix of good and bad news for women in politics. While the number of women in Congress is dropping slightly, women are making big strides in state governments. The 119th Congress will have 150 women, down from the previous record of 152. This is the first time since 2016 that there isn't a net gain in women's representation after an election. However, Democratic women are setting new records in both the House and Senate. On the other hand, Republican women are seeing a decrease in both the House and Congress overall, but the number in the Senate remains the same.

One interesting fact is that two Black women, Democrats Lisa Blunt Rochester from Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks from Maryland, will serve in the Senate together for the first time. While Vice President Kamala Harris didn't win the presidency, women are breaking records in executive offices. There will be 13 female governors in 2025, which is a new record. In state legislatures, 2, 467 women will serve, the highest number ever. However, this is still only about a third of all legislators.

Republican women face unique challenges. They have fewer women in Congress and none chairing committees in the new House. Despite this, Republican women Julie Fedorchak from North Dakota and Sheri Biggs from South Carolina won open seats in safe districts. The future looks hopeful, with more women considering running for office after Trump's return, similar to the surge after his 2016 win.

Women in Politics: A Mixed Bag in 2025

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