House Republican women face ongoing challenges in increasing their numbers within the House GOP, despite progress made in recent years. After a wave of elected conservative women reshaped the House GOP four years ago, the growth of Republican women in the chamber has plateaued, and many expect a decline in their ranks in 2025.
Even if they maintain control of the House, GOP women are poised to lose all sitting female chair positions. This stagnation has caused frustration among many female members, who are calling for a stronger commitment from party leaders, such as House Speaker Mike Johnson, to grow the ranks of Republican women.
The House GOP currently has a record 34 women serving, making up about 15% of the total conference. However, this is far from the 92 women in the Democratic caucus, creating a significant disparity. Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), elected in 2020, voiced her concern, stating that the GOP is “10 years behind” and lacks a robust pool of women to choose from for leadership roles. She believes their class of women lawmakers represents the beginning of a necessary shift, but much more work is needed.
This frustration comes at a time when gender is playing a key role in both presidential campaigns. Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has made outreach to women central to her campaign, particularly in light of the Republican push to restrict abortion following the 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, who is facing allegations of sexual abuse, has focused on appealing to male voters through appearances on male-friendly platforms. However, this emphasis on male voters could be detrimental to the GOP’s efforts to attract women voters.
Republican women lawmakers are concerned that without more female representation in key leadership positions, the party will struggle to address issues that resonate with female voters, such as abortion access and women’s rights. In interviews with GOP women in the House, many cited the demanding nature of congressional work as a significant barrier to attracting more women.
Republican Women in Congress Call for Greater Representation Amid Stalled Progress in Leadership
Serving in Congress is particularly challenging for women with young families, as the schedule requires long periods away from home. GOP women argue that their party’s emphasis on traditional family values creates additional pressures, leading to questions about their ability to balance motherhood with a political career.
While Democratic women face similar challenges, they argue that their party has been more proactive in addressing these issues. Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, disagreed with the notion that women in the GOP face more pressure regarding family life.
She pointed out that Democratic women are equally committed to their families but have benefited from more party support in running for office. In contrast, GOP women believe they are at a disadvantage in terms of support and resources compared to their Democratic counterparts.
The GOP has struggled to appeal to women voters for many years. In every presidential election since 2008, women have favored Democratic candidates by double digits, with Joe Biden winning 55% of the female vote in 2020 compared to Donald Trump’s 44%. Some GOP women believe that increasing their numbers in the House could create a domino effect, eventually leading to more Republican women in the Senate and possibly even a GOP woman securing the party’s presidential nomination.
However, they also note that efforts to recruit women candidates at the local level remain challenging, with some local GOP chapters favoring male candidates over women, even when the women are more qualified.
One of the most vocal GOP lawmakers advocating for change is Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), who is threatening to withhold her vote for GOP leader unless the party introduces policies allowing new mothers to vote remotely, such as proxy voting. While this idea has not gained widespread support, it reflects a growing concern among GOP women about the lack of accommodations for new mothers in the House.
Some GOP women support changes to the House’s schedule to allow for a better work-life balance, such as splitting time between Washington and home, while others are pushing for changes in how new mothers are treated within the party.
Efforts to recruit more GOP women candidates have also been hindered by a lack of resources compared to the Democratic Party, which has invested heavily in supporting female candidates. Elise Stefanik, the fourth-ranking Republican in the House, has spearheaded some efforts through her PAC, which focuses on helping women run for office.
However, many conservative women feel that they still do not have access to the resources and support that their Democratic counterparts enjoy. While Stefanik’s PAC has raised significant funds, there is a belief among GOP women that the party needs to invest more in training and preparing women to run for higher office.
There are also concerns about the “boys-club” mentality that still persists in some local GOP chapters, where male candidates are often prioritized over more qualified women. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) shared her own experience of being passed over in favor of a male candidate in 2015, despite having strong credentials.
In many cases, Republican women who have sought higher office had to be encouraged by party leaders or other women in the party to take the plunge. Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) noted that when she and other GOP women supported Stefanik’s bid for a leadership role in 2014, they faced resistance from male colleagues who preferred other candidates.
Rep. Ann Wagner
Despite these challenges, there have been efforts within the GOP to recruit more women candidates. However, some GOP women still feel that they lack the kind of centralized resources that organizations like Emily’s List provide for Democratic women.
Emily’s List is known for its comprehensive efforts to recruit, fund, and train female candidates, a model that many GOP women believe could be beneficial to their own party. However, some GOP leaders, including Stefanik, have resisted the idea of centralizing these efforts and prefer to focus on building a pipeline of candidates at the state and local levels.
One of the challenges faced by GOP women is being pigeonholed into speaking on certain issues, particularly those related to women’s health, such as abortion or sexual assault. While some Republican women are passionate about these issues, many feel that they are expected to be the party’s spokespersons on matters related to women simply because of their gender.
Some GOP women expressed frustration at being automatically assigned to these roles, with one conservative lawmaker stating that she was often called upon to discuss “anything that involves a vagina.” While many are willing to discuss these topics, they want to be seen as leaders on a broader range of issues, not just those that concern women’s health.
Looking ahead, the GOP is poised to lose all of its female committee chairs in the upcoming year, raising concerns about the future of female representation in the party’s leadership. Some women feel that leadership should prioritize gender diversity, but without sacrificing qualifications.
They argue that the party must do more to recruit and support female candidates at every level to ensure that women have a real opportunity to lead within the GOP. While there is a push for greater representation, the challenge remains: How can the Republican Party effectively address gender inequality without compromising the values and principles that its members hold dear?
