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AUGUST 2008: |
Lehigh Valley Newspaper Writes Article, PWCF Responds
Our View
themorningcall.com
August 21, 2008
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MARCH 2008: |
PWCF-Endorsed Legislative Candidates Will Face First Test During
Pennsylvania's Historic Primary Next Month
The Pennsylvania Women’s Campaign Fund has endorsed seventeen women
running for office in the General Assembly. Among the candidates running
primary campaigns who received endorsement are incumbents Jennifer Mann,
of Lehigh County, Babbette Josephs, Cherelle Parker, Barbara McIlvane-Smith,
Kathy Manderino, and Rosita Youngblood from the Delaware Valley , and Phyllis
Mundy of Luzerne County. They are joined by an array of talented challengers
from across the state to make up a bi-partisan slate for the April 22 primary.
Read
more...
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MARCH 2008: |
State, Region Lag Behind Nation In Women Legislators
by Mike Faher
The Tribune-Democrat, March 22, 2008
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ELECTION 2006: MIXED RESULTS FOR WOMEN IN PENNSYLVANIA
*information compiled by the staff of the Pennsylvania
Center for Women, Politics, & Public Policy
National Outcomes
Nationally, 2006 was an historic election year for women. Congresswoman Nancy
Pelosi will be the first female Speaker of the House, placing her second
in the line of succession to the presidency – the closest a woman has
ever come to the Oval Office. There were a record number of female candidates
nationwide for state and congressional seats, and a record number of women
won and will now serve in the U.S. Congress and state legislatures.[1]
Eight women - including two new women - won seats in the U.S. Senate, taking
the number of female senators to its record high of sixteen (11D, 5R). In
the U.S. House, women gained ten seats, bringing the total number of female
representatives to a high of seventy-one (50D, 21R) with one race in Louisiana
involving a female candidate to be determined in a December 9th runoff.
Additionally, nine women will be serving as governors beginning in 2007 matching
the previous high set in 2004.
Pennsylvania Outcomes
While women made record gains across the nation, the elections in Pennsylvania
largely maintained the status quo. Although Catherine Baker Knoll was easily
re-elected with Governor Ed Rendell to her position as Lieutenant Governor,
it must be noted that Pennsylvania has never elected a woman to the
Commonwealth’s highest executive position. Melissa Hart lost her re-election
bid, bringing the total number of women representing the Commonwealth in
the U.S. Congress to one. Pennsylvania has never elected a woman to the U.S.
Senate.
With approximately one-fifth of the seats in the General Assembly turning
over, the number of women remained virtually unchanged. The overall number
of women in Pennsylvania’s lower house will increase by only two seats
to twenty-seven. The record high for the Pennsylvania House was reached in
2004 when 28 of 203 seats were held by women. In the State Senate, women
picked up a single seat, reaching a record high of 10 of 50 seats being held
by women. Twenty-five seats were up this year and 5 women won [4 incumbents,
1 open seat].
The overall gain of three seats in the General Assembly indicates that
Pennsylvania has passed Mississippi and will move up to 46th in the nation
for the number of women elected to the state legislature.
Women Serving in the Pennsylvania General Assembly
[Beginning January 2007]
*Italicized type indicates newly elected |
