Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Research and Policy Brief

Volume

64

Publisher

Utah Women & Leadership Project

Publication Date

2-6-2025

First Page

1

Last Page

7

Abstract

Utah is exceptional in many ways, with its beautiful nature, high quality of life, and growing economy. WalletHub recently ranked Utah as the fourth best state to live based on 51 key indicators.1 While scoring above average on many metrics, Utah lags far behind in one crucial area—gender equality, which includes the presence of women in elected posts. The Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) began reporting on the status of women in Utah politics in 2014, with updates in 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and now 2025. Research shows that when both men and women serve together in communities, counties, and states, all residents are better served and are more likely to thrive.2 Although the state has shown progress in women’s political representation in recent years, much remains to be done, as Utah still ranks last in WalletHub's “Best & Worst States for Women’s Equality”3 report, with four of 17 key indicators focused on political representation.

Obviously, 2024 was a big year for national and local elections, with mixed outcomes in advancing women’s representation. This report provides current information on the status of women in Utah politics, updating past years’ research on the subject. It provides both Utah and national data for the following seven areas: Congress, statewide executive offices, state legislatures, counties, mayors, city councils, and boards of education. The brief concludes with a summary of findings and a brief discussion of what we can do to increase representation in Utah.

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