State Government Affairs
How the Demographics of State Legislatures Have Changed Over Time
August 31, 2026 | Sandy Dornsife
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.
