“Stronger”: Learning From Nevada's Women‐Led Legislative Majority

ABSTRACT The gendered makeup of state legislatures has been in a constant state of change since women were first allowed to serve in office. Through certain periods, there have been accelerations in the rate at which women gain representation, but they have never held a majority of state legislative seats throughout the United States. In this short article, we review the history of women's representation and the components that have endangered and encouraged representation, we then turn to the case of Nevada, the first state to achieve a women's majority. We find that although it is difficult to build such a majority in a state legislature, it is possible to maintain the increased representation in the long run by encouraging women in leadership positions, a greater focus on women's issues, and a more welcoming environment.