We routinely see women running for office, from presidential candidacy to legislative offices. So much is at stake in this year’s elections, and everyone wants to know: Will women break through the glass ceiling in 2024? This week we’re diving into the data behind recent election cycles and the number of female candidates we see on the ballot this year.
Comparing Recent Election Cycles
As the 2024 election cycle heats up, Vice President Kamala Harris is making history as the second woman – and first black woman and South Asian – to serve as the Democratic presidential nominee. Lower down the ballot, however, fewer women are running for office compared to previous years.
In recent election years, the number of women seeking and winning political office has steadily risen, from local governments to state legislatures to Congress. In 2024, however, there is a noticeable drop in the number of female candidates across both parties. According to the latest data and analysis from the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), the number of women running for Congress is down – with Republican women seeing the greatest percentage decline.
Republican women’s representation among their party’s candidates is down from 2022 to 2024, with the data showing that Republican women running for the House this cycle dropped about 36% from 2022, while the number running for Senate dropped by about 45%. For Democratic women, congressional candidacies stayed about the same in 2024 as two years ago, showing a smaller decline with a 7% drop for the House and a 9% drop for the Senate.
Source: CNN via Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University
Why Are There Fewer Female Candidates in 2024
So why is the number of female candidates in this election cycle decreasing? According to a survey from the Pew Research Center, more than half of Americans point to women having to do more to prove themselves as a major obstacle for those seeking high political office. For example, when it comes to the media, the physical appearance and personality of a woman is scrutinized far more than how a man presents himself, and female candidates appear to be penalized more than men for showing emotions while on camera. Female candidates also may be more discouraged by the negative campaigning and personal attacks that have become all too common in the media.
In addition, the societal expectations around gender roles and the balancing act of work and family responsibilities continue to weigh heavily on women considering political careers. Examining why fewer women are running for Congress this year, CNN explains that mothers on both sides of the aisle often face a question their male counterparts do not when they go out to campaign: “Who’s taking care of your children?” Regarding campaign financing, female candidates also face greater difficulties in raising fundraising dollars, which often can deter women from running or lead them to withdraw their candidacies when fundraising proves too challenging.
Another likely reason for the drop in candidacies in 2024 is the decline in electoral opportunities compared to 2022. As Kelly Dittmar, the Director of Research and Scholar at CAWP explains, the 2022 mid-term elections were held in a redistricting year, a process which typically results in more vacancies and tends to attract a higher number of candidates on both sides when no incumbent is running.
Despite the progress made in recent election years, women still face a significant gender gap in political representation and the decline in female candidates for the 2024 election cycle highlights the ongoing challenges for women entering and succeeding in politics. This week, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the first woman to lead a major party’s presidential ticket, addressed the Democratic National Convention. Reflecting on her own journey and the progress made since her groundbreaking 2016 campaign, Clinton demonstrated the resilience of women in politics and emphasized the importance of women’s voices and leadership. Her speech not only highlighted the barriers that still exist, but also celebrated the strides women have made in policy and governance. Her words served as a symbol of perseverance for aspiring female candidates and emphasized the transformative impact women can have in elected office, saying, “Together, we put a lot of cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling…this is where we break through.”
As Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress once said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” Only time will tell if women will succeed in making history during this election cycle, but one thing is certain: The number of registered women voters exceeds men, typically by 7-10 million voters. Female voters are also more likely to turn out to vote, especially between the ages of 18-64. Women have the opportunity to make their voices heard during this election and every vote will matter when America’s next president is chosen on November 5th, 2024. Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of history.
