There is no state in the country where women hold a majority of seats in a state legislature.
The best is Arizona, with 40 percent. Kentucky is one of the worst, with women only representing 17 percent of state legislative districts.
But that could change this year, because nearly 100 women have filed to run for the Kentucky General Assembly.
On Tuesday, the Kentucky Public Radio Network broadcast an hour-long news special on Kentucky women in politics. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton spoke with experts and lawmakers about the under-representation of women in the statehouse. Our guests were:
- Republican State Sen. Julie Raque Adams (Louisville)
- Democratic State Rep. Attica Scott (Louisville)
- University of Kentucky Historian, Randolph Hollingsworth
- Tina Ward-Pugh, Former Louisville Metro Councilwoman
- Jody Thomas, Executive Director for the National Foundation for Women Legislators
- Debbie Walsh, Director of the Center for American Women and Politics
The conversation ranged from discussion of the #metoo movement to Kentucky history to what policies lawmakers feel would get more attention with a higher percentage of women in elected office.
