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Nevada makes history with first female-majority legislature | Nevada makes history with first female-majority legislature |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Nevada has become the first state in the US with a female-majority legislature, where women hold 51% of seats. | Nevada has become the first state in the US with a female-majority legislature, where women hold 51% of seats. |
On Tuesday, Democrats Rochelle Nguyen and Beatrice Duran were appointed to the assembly, replacing lawmakers who had moved on from their posts. | On Tuesday, Democrats Rochelle Nguyen and Beatrice Duran were appointed to the assembly, replacing lawmakers who had moved on from their posts. |
Of Nevada's 63 legislative seats, 32 are now filled by women. | Of Nevada's 63 legislative seats, 32 are now filled by women. |
The historic moment follows an election season that saw an unprecedented number of women win congressional seats. | The historic moment follows an election season that saw an unprecedented number of women win congressional seats. |
Former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton tweeted about the milestone, saying: "Let's make it the first of many." | Former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton tweeted about the milestone, saying: "Let's make it the first of many." |
Before the last month's mid-term elections, 38% of Nevada's legislative seats were held by women. | Before the last month's mid-term elections, 38% of Nevada's legislative seats were held by women. |
Women won seats during the mid-terms, but secured the majority only with Tuesday's appointments. | Women won seats during the mid-terms, but secured the majority only with Tuesday's appointments. |
In the assembly, women have a majority with 23 of 42 assembly seats. In the Senate, women hold nine of 21 seats. | In the assembly, women have a majority with 23 of 42 assembly seats. In the Senate, women hold nine of 21 seats. |
Ms Nguyen, a criminal defence lawyer, replaced Chris Brooks, who won a Senate seat in November. Ms Duran, a union grievance specialist, replaced Olivia Diaz who is running for a Las Vegas city council seat. | Ms Nguyen, a criminal defence lawyer, replaced Chris Brooks, who won a Senate seat in November. Ms Duran, a union grievance specialist, replaced Olivia Diaz who is running for a Las Vegas city council seat. |
Both received unanimous appointments. | Both received unanimous appointments. |
They will both be a part of a Democratic supermajority in the assembly, with the party holding 29 of 42 seats. | They will both be a part of a Democratic supermajority in the assembly, with the party holding 29 of 42 seats. |
Ms Duran told the Associated Press that the milestone was "a great victory" for women; Ms Nguyen said it was "fantastic". | Ms Duran told the Associated Press that the milestone was "a great victory" for women; Ms Nguyen said it was "fantastic". |
Nevada now has the highest percentage of female lawmakers, ever, nationwide, at 47.6%. The state's Supreme Court is also female-led. | Nevada now has the highest percentage of female lawmakers, ever, nationwide, at 47.6%. The state's Supreme Court is also female-led. |
Following the elections, the state will now also have two US women senators, Democrats Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto. | Following the elections, the state will now also have two US women senators, Democrats Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto. |
And it is sending a new female lawmaker, Susie Lee, to the US House of Representatives. | And it is sending a new female lawmaker, Susie Lee, to the US House of Representatives. |
Many have dubbed 2018 the second Year of the Woman given the number of female candidates running for office and winning seats during the 6 November mid-terms. | Many have dubbed 2018 the second Year of the Woman given the number of female candidates running for office and winning seats during the 6 November mid-terms. |
But while the number of women in state legislatures has more than quintupled since the 1970s, women account for only around 28% of state lawmakers nationwide, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. | But while the number of women in state legislatures has more than quintupled since the 1970s, women account for only around 28% of state lawmakers nationwide, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. |
Debbie Walsh, Director of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), told the BBC that change has been slow thanks to a "stagnation" in the numbers of female candidates. | |
"We know that when women run, they win at about the same rate as men. The problem hasn't been women not winning, it's been women not running." | |
In 2009, women briefly held the majority in New Hampshire's state Senate, but no state has ever had an evenly split legislature, let alone a female-majority. | In 2009, women briefly held the majority in New Hampshire's state Senate, but no state has ever had an evenly split legislature, let alone a female-majority. |
This year, women took the majority in Colorado's state House as well, but only Nevada reached an overall legislative majority. | |
"A record number of candidates [this year] has resulted in a record number of women serving - not just nationally, but some of these breakthroughs like Nevada and Colorado," Ms Walsh says. | |
"These are important changes," Ms Walsh adds. "But we're still not looking at 50% women in Congress, and we're certainly not looking at 50% women in state legislatures." | |
And, according to the CAWP, this year's "important breakthroughs" are skewed along party lines, with Democrats having far more female candidates than Republicans. | |
But ensuring women sit at the legislative table is important for a number of reasons. | |
Research shows women are more transparent, more likely to work across party lines, and listen to underrepresented groups like minorities or lower-income Americans, according to Ms Walsh. | |
In January, a record-breaking 126 women will serve on Capitol Hill - meaning women will make up just over 23% of Congress. | In January, a record-breaking 126 women will serve on Capitol Hill - meaning women will make up just over 23% of Congress. |
"The real challenge now moving forward is sustaining this growth," Ms Walsh says. | |
"So we don't have this moment of a record and then we sit with another 10 years of relatively little growth - so that pretty soon, it won't be such an anomaly when women are fairly represented in a state legislature." |
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