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Politics of Parenthood

Politics of Parenthood State

Politics of Parenthood
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Key Findings

Reaching Proportional Representation: State Legislatures

5.3%

increase in representation of moms of minors between 2024 and 2026

8.3%

of all state legislators are moms of minors

2 states

have reached proportional representation: California and Virginia

731

more moms with kids under 18 are needed to achieve proportional representation in state legislatures

As of February 2026, we found that among the 7,386 state legislators in the United States, only 613 are moms with children under 18. This means that moms with minor children comprise just 8.3% of all state legislators. Despite these low numbers, progress has been made; 31 additional moms of minors have been elected since our 2024 report, representing a 5.3% increase.

According to the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, adult women who live with related kids under 18 comprise 18.2% of the adult population. In order to achieve proportional representation, Americans need to elect 731 more moms with young children to state legislatures.

Moms with young children in state legislatures

Representation level

Select State
  • California
  • Virginia
  • Nevada
  • Delaware
  • Minnesota
  • Arizona
  • Illinois
  • Colorado
  • Hawaii
  • Vermont
  • New Mexico
  • Michigan
  • Idaho
  • Oregon
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin
  • Nebraska
  • Connecticut
  • Alaska
  • South Dakota
  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey
  • Ohio
  • Kentucky
  • Utah
  • Missouri
  • Maryland
  • Florida
  • Montana
  • New York
  • Rhode Island
  • North Carolina
  • Kansas
  • Georgia
  • Iowa
  • Indiana
  • Texas
  • Massachusetts
  • Maine
  • Oklahoma
  • New Hampshire
  • South Carolina
  • Louisiana
  • West Virginia
  • Arkansas
  • Mississippi
  • North Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Wyoming
  • Alabama
  • TOTAL

of state legislators are moms of minor children

mom(s) of minors to reach proportional representation

mom(s) of minor children in the state legislature

total state legislators

State 2026 State Ranking 2026 Total Moms of Minors 2026 Total Legislators 2026 % of Moms of Minors Number of Moms Needed to Reach Proportional Representation
California 1 26 120 21.67% 0
Virginia 2 26 140 18.57% 0
Nevada 3 11 63 17.46% 1
Delaware 4 9 62 14.52% 3
Minnesota 5 29 201 14.43% 8
Arizona 6 12 90 13.33% 5
Illinois 7 22 177 12.43% 11
Colorado 8 12 100 12.00% 7
Hawaii 9 9 76 11.84% 5
Vermont 10 21 180 11.67% 12
New Mexico 11 13 112 11.61% 8
Michigan 12 17 148 11.49% 10
Idaho 13 12 105 11.43% 8
Oregon 14 10 90 11.11% 7
Washington 15 16 147 10.88% 11
Wisconsin 16 14 132 10.61% 11
Nebraska 17 5 49 10.20% 4
Connecticut 18 19 187 10.16% 16
Alaska 19 6 60 10.00% 5
South Dakota 20 10 105 9.52% 10
Pennsylvania 21 24 253 9.49% 23
New Jersey 22 11 120 9.17% 11
Ohio 23 12 132 9.09% 13
Kentucky 24 12 138 8.70% 14
Utah 25 9 104 8.65% 10
Missouri 26 17 197 8.63% 19
Maryland 27 16 188 8.51% 19
Florida 28 13 160 8.13% 17
Montana 29 12 150 8.00% 16
New York 30 17 213 7.98% 22
Rhode Island 31 9 113 7.96% 12
North Carolina 32 13 170 7.65% 18
Kansas 33 12 165 7.27% 19
Georgia 34 16 236 6.78% 27
Iowa 35 10 150 6.67% 18
Indiana 35 10 150 6.67% 18
Texas 37 12 181 6.63% 21
Massachusetts 38 11 200 5.50% 26
Maine 39 10 186 5.38% 24
Oklahoma 40 8 149 5.37% 20
New Hampshire 41 20 424 4.72% 58
South Carolina 42 8 170 4.71% 23
Louisiana 43 6 144 4.17% 21
West Virginia 44 5 134 3.73% 20
Arkansas 45 5 135 3.70% 20
Mississippi 46 6 174 3.45% 26
North Dakota 47 4 141 2.84% 22
Tennessee 48 3 132 2.27% 22
Wyoming 49 2 93 2.15% 15
Alabama 50 1 140 0.71% 25
TOTAL 613 7386 8.30% 732
Download our data

“Being a legislator and a new mother is challenging, but rewarding work. As a working parent, I understand the difficulties moms face in making their voices heard in public affairs. I am personally invested in uplifting their concerns and ensuring that our democracy delivers a swift response to the unmet needs of working families.”

Rep. Jeanné Kapela

District 5 • HI State House

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