New Jersey's Legislature Has The 11th Highest Proportion Of Women In The Nation

The Garden State's Legislature includes 10 women in the Senate and 27 in the Assembly.

In the New Jersey Legislature, 30.8 percent of the 120 legislators are women. Nationally, women are 24.3 percent of all state lawmakers.

"For a state that ranked 43rd as recently as 2004, this is a stunning improvement, putting us on the doorstep of the top 10," says Debbie Walsh, Director of The Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.

Walsh says the CAWP's "Ready to Run" campaign training program has been one factor in expanding the pool of Jersey women seeking and winning elective office.

She says some party leaders have also begun to look for women to fill vacancies or run for winnable seats.

But Walsh says a continued effort is vital because the new ranking is precarious.


By: Janet Fried