Massachusetts ranked 19th in the country for the number of women holding municipal office and far lower for female representation in the State House, according to a new report.
Why it matters: Representation in public office is another measure used to analyze gender politics in a city or state at a time when Massachusetts leaders are touting the state as a safe haven for women.
State of play: One-third of municipal office holders in Massachusetts identify as women, per the report from the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.
Between the lines: Massachusetts has seen its share of women trailblazers in recent years, electing its first female governor in Maura Healey and first female mayor of Boston in Michelle Wu.
- Everett elected Gerly Adrien to the city council in 2020, its second woman and the first Black woman in the role.
- Haverhill elected its first woman mayor, Melinda Barrett, in November.
The State House’s legislature is nearly one-third female. But the state ranked 29th for gender representation.
Zoom out: Colorado, Connecticut and Arizona ranked higher than Massachusetts in both categories.
