2027 Legislative Session Dates
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Key Takeaways:

  • The demographics of state legislatures have changed over time. For example, women hold 33.6% of state legislative seats as of 2024, representing an almost 40% increase over the past decade. Nevada leads with 62% female representation in its legislature.
  • State legislators with business backgrounds constitute the largest occupational group at 40%, while those with working-class backgrounds make up less than 2% of state legislatures.
  • Legislatures with greater representation of women introduced and enacted more legislation than those with lower percentages, according to a 2018-2019 study. Women's representation also influences the types of bills sponsored and voting patterns.
  • States with large minority populations tend to have higher levels of minority representation in their legislatures, with Maryland having approximately one-third Black legislators and New Mexico having over a third Latino lawmakers.

In the 1950s, state legislatures were composed of a relatively homogeneous group of individuals, primarily older white males with occupational backgrounds in law, business, or farming. However, over the past 50 to 60 years, the racial, gender, and occupational composition of state legislatures has changed substantially, with particularly significant increases in the representation of women and racial and ethnic minorities (more reading on that here and here). An individual’s personal background can influence their motivations for running for office and how they approach their roles once elected. Understanding the changing demographics of state legislators provides unique insights into how those demographics drive policy and how policy can increase participation among various groups.

Racial and Ethnic Diversity in State Legislatures

Currently, there are a total of 7,386 state legislative seats across 99 legislative chambers in the 50 U.S. states (Nebraska has a unicameral legislature). Based on 2023-24 data, of these legislators, almost 80% identify as white; a decrease of 17 percentage points over the last fifty years. Black legislators now make up the second largest group at 11%, reflecting an increase of almost 8%. Hispanic legislators account for 5.5%, a rise of slightly over 4%. Some states with large minority populations also have higher levels of minority representation in their legislatures. Maryland, for example, has one of the largest percentages of Black legislators at approximately one-third, and Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina each have at least 25%. New Mexico has the highest percentage of Latino lawmakers with over a third of the legislature, and 57% of Hawaii’s legislature is of Asian/Pacific Islander descent.

Women’s Representation and Its Impact on State Legislatures

The number of women elected to the state legislatures has also increased dramatically over the past fifty years. Currently, women hold 33.6% of state legislative seats, with a slightly higher percentage in the House compared to the Senate and greater representation in the Democratic Party. There has been an almost 40% increase in the number of women serving over the past ten years. Nevada has a particularly large number of female lawmakers, with 62% of the legislature made up of women. Additionally, Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington all have legislatures with female representation ranging from 45% to 54%. This increased representation has had some interesting effects on state policymaking. A 2018-2019 study found that legislators serving in legislatures with greater representation of women introduced and enacted more legislation than legislatures with lower percentages. Women’s representation can also have an impact on what types of bills are sponsored and legislators’ voting patterns.

Occupational Backgrounds of State Legislators

The occupation of state legislators also offers another lens through which to evaluate the trajectory of state policy. Most state legislatures do not operate on a full-time basis, and lawmakers in many states receive salaries insufficient to serve as their sole source of income, meaning many maintain other occupations or sources of income. An analysis of 2023 and 2024 data showed that state legislators with a business background constituted the largest single group at 40%, with government workers making up over 20%, and lawyers constituting around 13%. Interestingly, Tennessee and Texas have some of the highest percentages overall of legislators with business and legal backgrounds. Real estate professionals, K-12 educators/administrators, and farmers each showed an approximate 5% representation. In contrast, legislators with working-class backgrounds, defined as manual labor, service industry, or clerical jobs, make up less than 2% of state legislatures.

How Elections and Political Trends Shape Legislative Demographics

Elections for state legislators are generally held on even-numbered years, coinciding with the federal midterm and general elections (Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia hold elections on odd-numbered years). These elections have the potential to affect the demographics of state legislatures based, at least partially, on the political trends of the preceding two years. Recent debates over immigration, reproductive rights, and health care have also placed greater attention on how candidates’ personal and professional backgrounds may shape their policy priorities. How these individuals perform in the upcoming election could influence the direction of state policy in the years ahead.

Track Elections and Other Political Activity

Federal and state elections can have significant policy and regulatory implications for businesses and organizations. If your organization would like to further track federal and state elections, please contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of state legislators are women in 2024?

Women currently hold 33.6% of state legislative seats across the United States. Female representation is slightly higher in state houses compared to state senates, and women are more heavily represented in the Democratic Party. Nevada leads the nation with 62% of its legislature composed of women, while Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington each have between 45% and 54% female representation.

How has racial diversity in state legislatures changed over the last 50 years?

White legislators have decreased from approximately 97% to 80% of state legislative seats over the past fifty years. Black legislators now constitute 11% of state legislators (an increase of nearly 8 percentage points), while Hispanic legislators account for 5.5% (up slightly over 4 percentage points). States with large minority populations tend to have higher minority representation, such as Maryland where approximately one-third of legislators are Black, and New Mexico where over one-third are Latino.

What are the most common occupational backgrounds of state legislators?

Business professionals constitute the largest occupational group among state legislators at 40%, followed by government workers at over 20% and lawyers at approximately 13%. Real estate professionals, K-12 educators and administrators, and farmers each represent about 5% of state legislators. Legislators with working-class backgrounds in manual labor, service industry, or clerical jobs make up less than 2% of state legislatures.

Do women state legislators introduce different types of legislation than men?

Research indicates that women's representation can impact both the types of bills sponsored and legislators' voting patterns. A 2018-2019 study found that legislatures with greater representation of women introduced and enacted more legislation overall compared to legislatures with lower percentages of female lawmakers. The specific policy areas and voting behaviors can vary based on the increased presence of women in legislative bodies.

Why do most state legislators have other jobs besides serving in the legislature?

Most state legislatures do not operate on a full-time basis, and lawmakers in many states receive salaries insufficient to serve as their sole source of income. This part-time structure requires many state legislators to maintain other occupations or sources of income while serving in office. The occupational diversity resulting from this structure means legislators bring varied professional perspectives to their policymaking roles.