Number of women in Congress remains stagnant, breaking trend seen since Trump’s 2016 election

Women have made significant gains in Congress in recent elections, but progress has stalled for the first time since 2016, with the number of women in the next Congress expected to either decrease or stay the same as the current record levels. This decline is attributed to a lack of competitive House races in the latest election cycle and a decrease in male and female candidates running for office. Despite the potential setback, Democratic women are on track to match their current record in the House, and overall representation in Congress remains far from equal, with women making up only 28% of lawmakers. Republican women have made strides in the House since 2018, but they lack the institutional support that Democratic women have received from organizations like Emily’s List. While organizations such as Winning for Women and View PAC are working to close the gap for Republican women, more support is needed for them to see continued gains. The recent elections saw most party pickups won by men, further contributing to the stalled progress for women in Congress. Looking ahead to the 2026 midterms, it remains uncertain whether there will be a surge in women candidates as seen in previous election cycles. Overall, the continued push for increased representation of women in Congress is essential to achieving a more balanced and representative democracy.

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