Join us for IWPR’s 2026 Power+ Summit, The Power Grid: Driving Gender Equity Forward, taking place September 28–29 in Detroit, MI.
Together, we will spark bold ideas, share breakthroughs, and shape the future of gender equity.
Women comprise more than 50 percent of the U.S. population but currently hold just 23 percent of elected seats in Congress and about 1 in 3 state legislative seats. In 2018, a record number of women were elected to office—117 women, including 42 women of color—bringing their expertise, diverse experiences, and agenda for broad and inclusive change to Congress and state legislatures across the country.
This election cycle, women are mobilizing in their communities, shaping the debate on the nation’s direction and priorities, and stepping up to run for office in unprecedented numbers. In 2020, 584 women filed to compete for house or senates seats at the federal or state level, a historic high for women seeking office.