Only a Fraction of Candidates Competing in the Kansas General Election Are Women
Kansas City, MO -- Women's Foundation conducted an analysis on the state of women candidates for state and federal legislative races in Kansas following Tuesday's primary election in Kansas. Women's Foundation reviewed the unofficial election results from the Office of Kansas Secretary of State, looking at the primary election winners who will be on the ballot in November. Our findings include the following:
In November's general election, of the Kansas federal and state candidates on the ballot combined, 31% of candidates are women.
To break these numbers down further, no women will be on the ballot for the office of U.S. Senate.
Two of seven candidates (29%) for U.S. Representative seats are women.*
Twenty-three (23) of the 76 candidates (30%) running for state senate seats this cycle are women.
Sixty-five (65) of the 202 candidates (32%) who will be on the ballot competing for a state representative seat are women.
Women’s Foundation promotes equity and opportunity for women of all ages, using research, philanthropy, and policy solutions to make meaningful change. In 2016, they released the Status of Women in Kansas research study, the findings of which included that women are vastly underrepresented in the Kansas legislature. In 2014, their Civic Engagement research highlighted the gender gap on boards and commissions and helped spur the Women's Foundation Appointments Project to help remove barriers for women to serve.
More information about the organization can be found at www.Womens-Foundation.org.
Women's Foundation analysis of Missouri's candidates can be found here.
*One Independent candidate for US Representative filing by petition (still to be certified) is a woman.
Women's Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not participate in electoral activity.
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