By Alethia Kasben
Managing Editor
Posted: August 29, 2022 8:03 AM

Both the House and Senate appear likely to have more female lawmakers serving in the 2023-24 term depending on the outcome of the November election, though the increase won't be nearly as steep as after the 2018 elections.

Michigan's Legislature, along with others nationwide, has seen increases in women lawmakers in recent cycles, particularly since 2018 when female candidates – mostly on the Democratic side – ran more and won more.

For the first time in 2022, Michigan has two women running as candidates for governor for the major parties. Governor Gretchen Whitmer is not the first Democrat to serve as governor (and get the nomination), but Tudor Dixon is the first female Republican in the state to get her party's nomination.

The Barbara Lee Family Foundation, which works to advance women's equality and representation in American politics, noted this month that there are five woman versus woman gubernatorial races across the country, including Michigan.

Prior to 2022, there had only been four such contests nationally, ever.

Michigan saw a big jump in the number of women lawmakers during the 2018 cycle, going from 37 women to 53. House Democrats boasted gender parity in early 2020 when the results of a special election meant the caucus was made up of 26 men and 26 women.

Now, the House Democratic Caucus has 28 women members and 25 men. The House Republicans have 14 women serving.

In the Senate, 11 total women are serving in the chamber, with eight Democrats and three Republicans.

Next term in the Senate, the total number of women serving could be as high as 17 or as low as 10. Republicans could have up to five women members and Democrats could have as many as 13.

The House could have as many as 52 women serving, though it's more likely the high point is around 48. Three hotly competitive House races are between two women as well.

Michigan currently ranks 12th in the nation – tied with several other states – when it comes to the number of women serving in the Legislature, according to the Center of American Women In Politics.

While 35.8 percent of Michigan's legislators are women, nationally, 31.1 percent of the country's 7,383 seats are filled by women. Since 1971, the number of women serving has quintupled, the center said.