In recent years, the number of mothers in state legislatures has increased, but they still remain underrepresented. A new study by the Vote Mama Foundation reveals that nearly 8% of state legislators across the country are mothers.
In New Mexico, that percentage is close to 10%, with 11 mothers of minors currently serving in the legislature—up from nine in 2022, reflecting a 22% increase. Despite this progress, New Mexico still needs 10 more mothers to achieve proportional representation, a challenge shared by all states, according to the study.
The Vote Mama Foundation reports that about 18% of women in the U.S. are mothers with minor children, yet no state legislature has achieved this level of representation. California comes the closest, with 17.5%.
The report defines mothers as cisgender, transgender, or non-binary individuals who have biological, foster, adopted, or stepchildren under 18.
Sarah Hague, chief program officer at Vote Mama Foundation, noted, “In states like Minnesota, which has the second-highest representation of moms in the country, we’ve seen significant advancements in policies such as paid leave and preschool meals. These changes are driven by mothers in the legislature who bring their lived experiences to the decision-making process.”
Hague highlighted that more mothers are entering politics because existing policies are not adequately addressing the needs of their families. There are problems my family, my kids, and my community face that current policymakers are not recognizing because their experiences differ from those in their districts, she explained.
However, 20% of legislative mothers across the nation have left office since 2022, with many citing caregiving responsibilities as a primary reason. New Mexico State Senator Siah Correa Hemphill D-Catron, Grant & Socorro announced in June that she will not seek re-election. You always feel guilty for not being with your children all the time, and it makes you feel like a failure both as a mother and in your career. It’s impossible to achieve a true balance, she said.
In New Mexico, legislators do not receive a salary; they are compensated only with per diem for expenses. Hemphill expressed concern about how this impacts lawmakers, stating, It puts legislators in a really vulnerable position.
Hague emphasized that having mothers in the legislative process leads to different priorities. To change our policies, we must change our policymakers, she asserted.
This coverage is supported by the Thornburg Foundation.