Women in Politics
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Who Runs Our Cities?
The Political Gender Gap in the Top 100 U.S. Cities
An Equality Indicators Report
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Women comprise half of the U.S. and world populations but are highly underrepresented at all levels of government. The consequences of the gender gap in political leadership go beyond issues of democratic representation. Studies have found that, on average, women elected officials introduce more legislation than men, and that they do so on a wide range of issues, from health and education to infrastructure and the environment. On balance, women elected officials have also been found to be more transparent, collaborative, and effective. Given the positive impact that women leaders have on the content and quality of public policy, a better understanding of the gender gap in political representation is needed.
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22.8%
of national parliaments are women
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19.4%
of U.S. Congress is women
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24.6%
of U.S. state legislatures are women
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While most of the existing studies of women in U.S. politics have focused on the federal and state levels, this report focuses on women’s representation at the local level. The Institute for State and Local Governance’s 2015 Equality Indicators for New York City included an indicator of “Gender & Representation in Government.” This report expands on this indicator by analyzing data on current mayors and city councilors, historical data on mayors, and data on the mayoral candidates in the most recent elections in the 100 largest cities in the United States.
The purpose of this report is to examine three questions raised by existing studies:
- Are women better represented at the local level than at the state and federal levels of government?
- As more women are elected, do more women run for – and win – future elections?
- Are women underrepresented because they do not win elections or because they do not run for office?
Our analysis shows that while the percentage of women in local elected office (mayors and city councilors combined) is higher than at the state and federal levels, the percentage of mayoral offices held by women is even lower than that of Congressional offices. We found moderate correlations between the number of historically-elected women mayors and the percentage of women among mayoral candidates and elected officials in each of the cities. Finally, our results indicate that when they run for office, women perform almost as well as men in mayoral elections.
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33.6%
of city councils in the top 100 U.S. cities are women
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18.2%
of elected mayors in the top 100 U.S. cities are women
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19.3%
of mayoral candidates in the top 100 U.S. cities were women
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This finding is consistent with the results of existing studies that have found that women are underrepresented because they do not run for office. There are a number of barriers preventing women from running for office, such as gendered social roles, negative self-perceptions, limited exposure to politics, and lack of support. Addressing these barriers will be an important step toward achieving greater gender parity, and we offer some suggestions for doing so.
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Current Mayors & City Councilors
Hover over one of the top 100 U.S. cities for more details.
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Historically-Elected Women Mayors & Current Elected Officials
Hover over one of the top 100 U.S. cities for more details or click through the timeline to see change over the last 90 years.
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Top 100 U.S. Cities Data
Rank City State Current Mayor Mayor Gender % Women Elected Officials % Women City Council Total # Women Mayors # Women Mayors of Color % Bach. Deg. Median House-hold Income % Non-White Mayor Party Population 1 New York NY Bill de Blasio Male 26.92% 27.45% 0 0 20.7% $52,737 67.26% Democrat 8,504,405 2 Los Angeles CA Eric Garcetti Male 6.25% 6.666% 0 0 20.8% $49,682 71.50% Democrat 3,718,883 3 Chicago IL Rahm Emanuel Male 25.49% 25.99% 1 0 20.9% $47,831 67.83% Democrat 2,205,546 4 Houston TX Sylvester Turner Male 23.52% 25% 2 0 18.3% $45,728 74.47% Democrat 2,962,224 5 Philadelphia PA Jim Kenney Male 33.33% 35.29% 0 0 14.2% $37,460 63.79% Democrat 1,674,442 6 Phoenix AZ Greg Stanton Male 44.44% 50% 1 0 17.2% $46,881 54.02% Democrat 1,630,025 7 San Antonio TX Ivy R. Taylor Female 27.27% 20.00% 2 1 16% $46,317 73.70% Democrat 1,698,845 8 San Diego CA Kevin L. Faulconer Male 40.00% 44.44% 2 0 25.3% $65,753 56.35% Republican 1,949,928 9 Dallas TX Mike Rawlings Male 33.33% 35.71% 2 0 18.6% $43,359 70.72% Democrat 1,000,092 10 San Jose CA Sam Liccardo Male 18.18% 20.00% 2 0 23.7% $83,787 72.52% Democrat 1,269,908 11 Austin TX Steve Adler Male 63.63% 69.99% 1 0 29.1% $55,216 51.34% Democrat 931,830 12 Jacksonville FL Lenny Curry Male 20.00% 21.05% 0 0 17.7% $46,768 45.84% Republican 868,031 13 San Francisco CA Edwin M. Lee Male 33.33% 36.36% 1 0 32.2% $78,378 58.58% Democrat 864,816 14 Indianapolis IN Joe Hogsett Male 26.92% 28.00% 0 0 18% $42,076 42.40% Democrat 853,173 15 Columbus OH Andrew J. Ginther Male 37.5% 42.85% 0 0 21.8% $44,774 41.56% Democrat 850,106 16 Fort Worth TX Betsy Price Female 50% 44.44% 2 0 18% $52,492 59.06% Republican 833,319 17 Charlotte NC Jennifer Watson Roberts Female 50% 45.45% 2 0 27.5% $53,274 56.09% Democrat 827,097 18 Seattle WA Edward B. Murray Male 50% 55.55% 1 0 34.4% $67,365 33.79% Democrat 684,451 19 Denver CO Michael B. Hancock Male 35.71% 38.46% 0 0 26.6% $51,800 47.14% Democrat 682,545 20 El Paso TX Oscar Leeser Male 44.44% 50% 1 0 15.4% $42,037 85.23% Democrat 681,124 21 Detroit MI Mike Duggan Male 40.00% 44.44% 0 0 7.7% $26,095 91.31% Democrat 677,116 22 Washington DC Muriel Bowser Female 53.84% 50% 2 2 23.3% $69,235 64.62% Democrat 672,228 23 Boston MA Martin J. Walsh Male 28.57% 30.76% 0 0 24.5% $54,485 53.96% Democrat 667,137 24 Memphis TN Jim Strickland Male 21.42% 23.07% 0 0 15.6% $37,099 72.57% Democrat 655,770 25 Nashville Davidson TN Megan Barry Female 39.02% 37.5% 1 0 22.7% $46,758 43.85% Democrat 654,610 26 Portland OR Charlie Hales Male 20.00% 25% 2 0 26.8% $53,230 28.20% Democrat 632,309 27 Oklahoma City OK Mick Cornett Male 11.11% 12.5% 1 0 19.1% $47,004 44.32% Republican 631,346 28 Las Vegas NV Carolyn G. Goodman Female 28.57% 16.66% 2 0 14.2% $50,903 53.72% Democrat 623,747 29 Baltimore MD Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake Female 31.25% 26.66% 2 2 14.6% $41,819 71.92% Democrat 621,849 30 Louisville KY Greg Fischer Male 40.74% 42.30% 0 0 15.9% $44,806 32.11% Democrat 615,366 31 Milwaukee WI Tom Barrett Male 12.5% 13.33% 0 0 14.9% $35,489 63.44% Democrat 600,155 32 Albuquerque NM Richard J. Berry Male 30.00% 33.33% 0 0 18.6% $47,413 58.65% Republican 559,121 33 Tucson AZ Jonathan Rothschild Male 42.85% 50% 0 0 15.1% $37,149 53.70% Democrat 531,641 34 Fresno CA Ashley Swearengin Female 25% 14.28% 1 0 13.8% $41,455 71.39% Republican 520,052 35 Sacramento CA Kevin Johnson Male 11.11% 12.5% 2 1 18.5% $50,013 66.03% Democrat 490,712 36 Kansas City MO Sly James Male 38.46% 41.66% 1 0 19.7% $45,376 44.90% Democrat 475,378 37 Long Beach CA Robert Garcia Male 40.00% 44.44% 1 0 18.7% $52,944 71.94% Democrat 474,140 38 Mesa AZ John Giles Male 0% 0% 1 0 16% $48,259 35.89% Nonpartisan 471,825 39 Atlanta GA Kasim Reed Male 47.05% 50% 1 1 27.3% $46,439 63.59% Democrat 463,878 40 Colorado Springs CO John Suthers Male 20.00% 22.22% 1 0 22% $54,228 30.13% Republican 456,568 41 Virginia Beach VA Will Sessoms Male 40.00% 44.44% 1 0 21.8% $67,001 36.41% Republican 452,745 42 Raleigh NC Nancy McFarlane Female 37.5% 28.57% 2 0 31.5% $54,581 46.04% Democrat 451,066 43 Omaha NE Jean Stothert Female 25% 14.28% 1 0 22.1% $48,751 31.84% Republican 443,885 44 Miami FL Tomas P. Regalado Male 0% 0% 0 0 14.7% $30,858 88.86% Republican 441,003 45 Oakland CA Libby Schaaf Female 55.55% 50% 2 1 21.9% $52,962 73.47% Democrat 419,267 46 Minneapolis MN Betsy Hodges Female 50% 46.15% 2 1 29.2% $50,767 39.03% Democrat 410,939 47 Tulsa OK Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr. Male 40.00% 44.44% 2 0 19.8% $41,957 43.04% Republican 403,505 48 Wichita KS Jeff Longwell Male 28.57% 33.33% 1 0 19.4% $45,907 36.07% Republican 389,965 49 New Orleans LA Mitch Landrieu Male 50% 57.14% 0 0 19.7% $36,964 69.30% Democrat 389,617 50 Arlington TX Jeff Williams Male 44.44% 50% 0 0 19.9% $53,055 57.12% Independent 388,125 51 Cleveland OH Frank G. Jackson Male 16.66% 17.64% 1 0 9.4% $26,179 65.71% Democrat 388,072 52 Bakersfield CA Harvey L. Hall Male 12.5% 14.28% 1 0 13.8% $56,842 64.16% Republican 373,640 53 Tampa FL Bob Buckhorn Male 25% 28.57% 2 0 20.6% $43,740 54.12% Democrat 369,075 54 Aurora CO Steve Hogan Male 54.54% 60.00% 1 0 18.8% $52,275 53.72% Republican 359,407 55 Honolulu HI Kirk Caldwell Male 30.00% 33.33% 1 0 22.7% $60,548 83.36% Democrat 352,769 56 Anaheim CA Tom Tait Male 40.00% 50% 0 0 17.6% $59,707 73.00% Republican 350,742 57 Santa Ana CA Miguel Pulido Male 28.57% 33.33% 0 0 8.5% $52,519 90.84% Democrat 335,400 58 Corpus Christi TX Nelda Martinez Female 44.44% 37.5% 3 1 13.4% $49,675 67.98% Democrat 324,074 59 Riverside CA William 'Rusty' Bailey Male 0% 0% 1 0 12.9% $56,089 68.01% Independent 322,424 60 St. Louis MO Francis Slay Male 36.66% 37.93% 0 0 17.4% $34,800 57.19% Democrat 315,685 61 Lexington KY Jim Gray Male 43.75% 46.66% 2 0 23.2% $48,667 27.36% Democrat 314,488 62 Stockton CA Anthony Silva Male 28.57% 33.33% 2 0 11.7% $45,347 77.70% Republican 305,658 63 Pittsburgh PA William Peduto Male 40.00% 44.44% 1 0 19.2% $40,009 34.92% Democrat 304,391 64 St. Paul MN Christopher B. Coleman Male 37.5% 42.85% 0 0 22.6% $48,258 45.21% Democrat 300,851 65 Anchorage AK Ethan Berkowitz Male 16.66% 18.18% 0 0 21.1% $78,121 38.93% Democrat 298,695 66 Cincinnati OH John Cranley Male 20.00% 22.22% 1 0 18.9% $34,002 51.20% Democrat 298,550 67 Henderson NV Andy Hafen Male 40.00% 50% 1 0 19.1% $63,830 32.16% Democrat 285,667 68 Greensboro NC Nancy Vaughan Female 55.55% 50% 3 1 23.7% $41,518 54.59% Democrat 285,342 69 Plano TX Harry LaRosiliere Male 25% 28.57% 1 0 33.9% $82,944 43.12% Democrat 283,558 70 Newark NJ Ras J. Baraka Male 22.22% 25% 0 0 9.4% $34,012 88.92% Democrat 281,944 71 Toledo OH Paula Hicks-Hudson Female 46.15% 41.66% 2 1 11.4% $33,485 38.72% Democrat 279,789 72 Lincoln NE Chris Beutler Male 37.5% 42.85% 2 0 23.8% $49,794 17.68% Democrat 277,348 73 Orlando FL Buddy Dyer Male 28.57% 33.33% 1 0 21.9% $41,901 60.16% Democrat 270,934 74 Chula Vista CA Mary Casillas Salas Female 60.00% 50% 4 2 18.9% $66,110 80.23% Democrat 265,757 75 Jersey City NJ Steven M. Fulop Male 30.00% 33.33% 0 0 25.6% $58,907 78.51% Democrat 264,290 76 Chandler AZ Jay Tibshraeny Male 14.28% 16.66% 0 0 24.6% $72,072 41.67% Republican 260,828 77 Fort Wayne IN Tom Henry Male 0% 0% 0 0 17.1% $43,994 30.60% Democrat 260,326 78 Buffalo NY Byron Brown Male 0% 0% 0 0 13.7% $31,668 54.38% Democrat 258,071 79 Durham NC William V. "Bill" Bell Male 28.57% 33.33% 1 0 25.2% $49,585 61.72% Democrat 257,636 80 St. Petersburg FL Rick Kriseman Male 33.33% 37.5% 1 0 19.3% $45,483 36.86% Democrat 257,083 81 Irvine CA Steven S. Choi Male 60.00% 75% 3 0 37.6% $91,999 55.55% Republican 256,927 82 Laredo TX Pete Saenz Male 0% 0% 1 1 12.6% $39,408 96.34% Democrat 255,473 83 Lubbock TX Dan Pope Male 42.85% 50% 1 0 18.5% $44,139 45.20% Nonpartisan 249,042 84 Madison WI Paul R. Soglin Male 42.85% 44.99% 1 0 30.7% $53,933 25.04% Democrat 248,951 85 Gilbert AZ Jenn Daniels (Appointed) Female 20.00% 20.00% 1 0 27.5% $81,485 28.51% Nonpartisan 247,542 86 Norfolk VA Kenneth Cooper Alexander Male 50% 57.14% 0 0 15.3% $44,150 55.91% Democrat 246,393 87 Reno NV Hillary Schieve Female 57.14% 50% 2 0 18.9% $46,489 38.08% Democrat 241,445 88 Winston-Salem NC Allen Joines Male 33.33% 37.5% 1 0 20.2% $40,480 53.45% Democrat 241,218 89 Glendale AZ Jerry Weiers Male 14.28% 16.66% 1 0 14.3% $46,855 49.85% Republican 240,126 90 Hialeah FL Carlos Hernandez Male 50% 57.14% 0 0 9.7% $29,959 96.46% Republican 237,069 91 Garland TX Douglas Athas Male 22.22% 25% 1 0 15.4% $51,997 67.91% Republican 236,897 92 Scottsdale AZ W.J. "Jim" Lane Male 57.14% 66.66% 2 0 32.1% $72,455 18.30% Republican 236,839 93 Irving TX Beth Van Duyne Female 11.11% 0% 1 0 21.3% $50,942 71.53% Republican 236,607 94 Chesapeake VA Alan P. Krasnoff Male 33.33% 37.5% 0 0 18.5% $70,176 40.45% Republican 235,429 95 North Las Vegas NV John J. Lee Male 40.00% 50% 1 0 10% $53,105 69.85% Democrat 234,807 96 Fremont CA Bill Harrison Male 40.00% 50% 0 0 27.8% $10,591 75.16% Democrat 232,206 97 Baton Rouge LA Melvin L. “Kip” Holden Male 30.76% 33.33% 0 0 19.3% $38,790 63.43% Democrat 228,590 98 Richmond VA Dwight C. Jones Male 50% 55.55% 0 0 21.3% $41,331 60.34% Democrat 220,289 99 Boise City ID David H. Bieter Male 42.85% 50% 0 0 24.9% $49,209 16.41% Democrat 218,281 100 San Bernardino CA R. Carey Davis Male 25% 28.57% 2 1 7.9% $38,774 82.05% Republican 216,108