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In 2015, 104 (76D, 28R) women hold seats in the United States Congress, comprising 19.4% of the 535 members; 20 women (20%) serve in the United States Senate, and 84 women (19.3%) serve in the United States House of Representatives. Four women delegates (3D, 1R) also represent American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands in the United States House of Representatives.

 

The 20 (14D, 6R) women currently serving in the Senate are:

Name Years elected (e), won special election (se), or appointed (a) Name Years elected (e), won special election (se), or appointed (a)
Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) e 2010 Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) e 2012
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) e 2012 Mazie Hirono (D-HI) e 2012
Barbara Boxer (D-CA) e 1992, 1998, 2004, 2010 Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) e 2006, 2012
Maria Cantwell (D-WA) e 2000, 2006, 2012 Claire McCaskill (D-MO) e 2006, 2012
Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)  e 2014 Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) e 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004, 2010
Susan Collins (R-ME) e 1996, 2002, 2008, 2014 Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) a 2002; e 2004, 2010
Joni Ernst (R-IA) e 2014 Patty Murray (D-WA) e 1992, 1998, 2004, 2010
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) se 1992; e 1994, 2000, 2006, 2012 Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) e 2008, 2014
Deb Fischer (R-NE) e 2012 Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) e 2000, 2006, 2012
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY) a 2009; e 2010, 2012 Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) e 2012

84 women from 31 states serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.

62 Democrats
22 Republicans

 

 

  • California has sent more women to Congress than any other state - a total of 39 to date.
  • New York is next with 27 women to date.
  • 3 states (DE, MS, VT) have never sent a woman to either the House or the Senate.

 

 

33

of the 104 women serving in Congress in 2015 are women of color: 18 African Americans, 9 Latinas, and 6 Asian American/Pacific Islanders

307

women (198D, 109R) have served in the U.S. Congress to date:

  • 35 (21D, 14R) in the Senate only
  • 261 (169D, 92R) in the House only
  • 11 (8D, 3R) in both the House and Senate
54

women of color (50D, 4R) have served in the U.S. Congress to date: 35 African Americans, 9 Asian American/Pacific Islanders, and 10 Latinas
 

  • 1916
    Jeannette Rankin (R-MT) became the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
  • 1922
    Rebecca Latimer Felton (D-GA) became the first woman appointed to the Senate, but only served one day.
  • 1964
    Patsy Takemoto Mink (D-HI) became the first woman of color elected to the House.
  • 1978
    Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R-KS) became the first woman elected to the Senate without having previously filled an unexpired Congressional term. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) was the first Democratic woman to do so in 1987.
  • 1992
    Carol Moseley Braun (D-IL) became the first woman of color elected to the Senate.
  • 1998
    Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) became the first openly gay or lesbian person elected to an initial Congressional term. She is now the first openly gay member of the Senate.

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