WalletHub has recently ranked Utah as the fourth best state to live in, but the state lags behind in gender equity and female representation in elected positions. The Utah State University Utah Women & Leadership Project has been tracking the progress of women in politics in Utah since 2014. The project’s research shows that Utah has room for improvement in terms of gender representation in various government positions.
In the U.S. Congress, only 16.7% of Utah’s delegation is female, compared to 28.4% nationally. In statewide executive offices, 40% of seats are held by women, higher than the national average of 31.6%. However, in the state legislature, only 29.8% of legislators are women, ranking Utah 34th in the nation. Women hold 20.5% of county commission and council seats and 31% of city council positions in Utah, but there are still 50 cities with no elected women on their councils.
Despite some progress, there is still work to be done to improve Utah’s political representation of women. Susan Madsen, director of UWLP, emphasizes the importance of including the perspectives and leadership of women in government at all levels to benefit all Utahns. The full report on the status of women in Utah politics, co-authored by Madsen and research associate Corinne Clarkson, can be found on UWLP’s website.
As Utah continues to strive for gender equity and better representation of women in politics, efforts like those of the UWLP will play a vital role in moving the state forward towards a more balanced and inclusive political landscape.
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