FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 3, 2026
CONTACT:
Marcus Coppola
press@votemamafoundation.org
(864) 932-5000
NEW STUDY: Every State Legislature Now Has a Mom of Minor Children Serving
Representation has increased by 56.6% since 2022
WASHINGTON — A new study from Vote Mama Foundation, the nation’s leading organization conducting research and analysis of parents’ representation in politics, found that every U.S. state now has a mom of minor children serving in its state legislature. The study, unveiled last week at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), also highlights which states have achieved proportional representation of moms in their legislatures.
Among the study’s key findings are:
- 8.3% of all state legislators are moms of minor children, a 56.6% increase since 2022
- California and Virginia have reached proportional representation for the first time since Vote Mama Foundation began collecting this data in 2022
- 731 more moms of minors are needed to achieve proportional representation nationwide
“Getting mamas at every decision-making table requires paying attention to state legislatures, which pass tens of thousands of bills each year that affect nearly every aspect of families’ lives,” said Liuba Grechen Shirley, founder and CEO of Vote Mama Foundation. “Our new data has exciting signs of progress: since we began tracking mamas’ representation four years ago, we’ve seen a 57% increase in the number of mama legislators, and 2026 is the first year we’ve ever seen moms of minors elected to all 50 state legislatures. At the same time, only two states have achieved proportional representation, showing the ongoing need to break down the barriers keeping moms out of office and out of power.”
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Background:
Vote Mama Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the leading source of research and analysis on the political participation of mothers. The organization is making it easier for moms to serve by identifying the barriers that keep moms out of office, advancing nonpartisan reforms, and tracking the overall representation of parents in politics. Vote Mama Foundation produces and publishes original, data-driven research examining the representation of parents in Congress and state legislatures, Campaign Funds for Childcare, Campaign Funds for Security, and other critical supports. To learn more about Vote Mama Foundation, please visit https://www.votemamafoundation.org/.
According to Vote Mama Foundation’s research, 41 states have now approved Campaign Funds for Childcare, and 31 states have authorized Campaign Funds for Security.