Read more about her life in this article by Jack Brammer here:

The appointments of Democrats Rochelle Thuy Nguyen and Beatrice “Bea” Angela Duran to two Las Vegas-area legislative seats give women 51 percent of the 63 seats in the Legislature.

Women will hold nine of 21 seats in the state Senate, falling short of a majority in that chamber. But they will hold 23 of 42 seats in the Assembly, comprising 55 percent in that chamber and giving women enough numbers to make the two chambers an overall female majority.

No state has previously had a female-majority or even a 50 percent-female Legislature, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, which tracks women’s political representation.

Women will for the first time make up a majority of state legislators in Colorado and New Mexico next year, but at least 13 states saw losses in female representation after the November election, according to a count released Thursday by the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics.

While women will fill a record number of state legislative seats in 2025, the overall uptick will be slight, filling just over third of legislative seats. Races in some states are still being called.

“We certainly would like to see a faster rate of change and more significant increases in each election cycle to get us to a place where parity in state legislatures is less novel and more normal,” said Kelly Dittmar, director of research at the CAWP, which is a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University.

Read more here: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/number-women-state-lawmakers-inches-record-116091110

Saving a depressed Democratic Party from a shellacking in November, Kamala Harris has brought so much excitement to the campaign and women are already galvanizing support for her. A record $100 million was raised in less than two days and 44,000 black women participated on a Zoom strategy call on Sunday night, just hours after Joe Biden announced he would step aside and after he endorsed Kamala Harris. The mobilization of women is expected to continue with celebrities lending support and energy in support of the Harris. Beyonce has given permission for the Harris campaign to use the song Freedom for her campaign.

Hillary and Bill Clinton were among the first powerhouse Democrats to endorse Kamala Harris, along with Senator Elizabeth Warren, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, dozens of House and Senate Democrats and all 23 Democratic governors. In the days ahead, Harris is expected to begin talking about her vision for that country that will no doubt include abortion rights, healthcare, protecting democracy, border protection and climate change.

12 (8D, 4R) women now serve as governor, a new high that beats the previous record of 9, first set in 2004. Women hold 24% of governorships nationwide. Three states elected their first woman governor in 2022: Arkansas (Sarah Huckabee Sanders [R]), Massachusetts (Maura Healey [D]), and New York (Kathy Hochul [D]). Two of those states – Massachusetts and New York – have previously had a woman serve as governor through appointment/ascension.

There remain 18 states that have never had a woman governor.

Data courtesy of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP)

In the final round of the count, Peltola, a former state lawmaker, edged Sarah Palin, a former Alaska governor and the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, by three percentage points, 51.5% to 48.5%.

Peltola, who will have to run again against Sarah Palin in the November, served in the Alaska State House and is a salmon advocate and fishes commercially. She also has served on the Orutsararmiut Native Council Tribal Court and the Bethel City Council, and on the boards of the Nature Conservancy, the Alaska Humanities Forum, the Alaska Children’s Trust, and the Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska.

Mary Peltola refrained from running a negative campaign against, Palin, with whom she served during her time in the state legislature while Sarah Palin was governor.

“I have a tremendous sense of gratitude and appreciation for the people who put trust in me to fill out the remainder of Congressman Young’s term,” said Peltola during a videotaped statement Wednesday. “I intend to try to live up to the legacy that Don Young laid for Alaska, to champion and work for all Alaskans.”

To learn more, visit https://www.marypeltola.com/.

“Minnesotans cast their ballots and they are decisively behind pro-choice women. We are proud that 83% of Women Winning-endorsed candidates will move on to the General Election in November. The results of the Primary Election are clear: Minnesotans want to elect pro-choice leaders who will protect the right to a safe, legal abortion,” said Emma McBride, Women Winning Political Director. “Now, our work continues to make sure pro-choice women are victorious on November 8th. This fight will not be easy — but it is a righteous fight and Women Winning is organized, ready to elect champions for our rights, our communities, and our state.”

Minnesotans decidedly supported pro-choice women leading the ballot. Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Governor Tim Walz won their primary handedly, demonstrating strength as they face an anti-abortion ticket in November. U.S. Representative Betty McCollum(Congressional District 4) secured 83% of the vote, returning a long-time champion for reproductive justice to Congress. U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (Congressional District 5) defeated a well-funded male challenger and will continue to be a fierce advocate for abortion rights in Congress.

With abortion rights at stake, pro-choice women are preparing for historic representation. With their Primary Election wins, Erin Maye Quade (Senate District 56) and Zaynab Mohamed(Senate District 63) will join Clare Oumou Verbeten (Senate District 66) in becoming the first Black women elected to the Minnesota Senate with victories in November. Erin is also set to become the first out lesbian elected to the Minnesota State Senate. After earning 63% of the vote, Leigh Finke (House District 66A) will move onto the General Election to become the first out trans person elected to the Minnesota Legislature. 

Women Winning is proud to have endorsed 118 pro-choice women who will be on the ballot in November for federal, state, or local office in Minnesota. The organization’s targeted endorsement program centers on pro-choice women candidates with the goal of electing a truly representative government and creating a more equitable Minnesota.

Women Winning’s 2022 electoral goals include protecting Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, U.S. Representative Angie Craig, and Auditor Julie Blaha; flipping the anti-choice Minnesota Senate; and electing a pro-choice majority to the Minnesota House. Women Winning will make additional endorsements in 2022 and will continue organizing to ensure reproductive rights are protected by electing pro-choice women up and down the ballot in the November 8th General Election.

Washington Post – Today, Ketanji Brown Jackson made history Thursday, becoming the first Black woman to join the U.S. Supreme Court. Jackson was sworn in during a ceremony at the court, just minutes after Justice Stephen G. Breyer made his retirement official. President Biden’s nominee was confirmed by the Senate in April but has been waiting for Breyer to conclude his tenure.

With her husband and two daughters looking on, Jackson took two oaths: a constitutional oath, administered by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.; and a judicial oath, administered by Breyer. “I am pleased to welcome Justice Jackson to the court and to our common calling,” Roberts said as the brief ceremony concluded.

President and CEO Lucy Sedgwick leads Ruth’s List’s slate of 94 endorsed candidates for 2022 along with her staff of 10. With a 68% win rate, the group is poised to help pick up Democratic seats in the State House and Senate. Tampa Florida Senator Janet Cruz stressed the importance of holding critical Democratic seats, while House candidate Lindsay Cross talked about critical environmental issues facing Florida. Newcomer Jen McDonald is an endorsed candidate running for Florida State House Dist. 65 on a progressive platform. She inspired the crowd with her ideas and energy.

Ruth’s List was founded in 2008 by the Honorable Alex Sink, who at the time served as Florida’s Chief Financial Officer. With women underrepresented in all levels of public office across the state, Alex saw a great need to build the bench of dynamic women leaders to serve in state and local government.

Ruth’s List is named for Ruth Bryan Owen, the first woman elected to Congress from the South. She ran office in 1928, only eight years after women were given the right to vote.

Ruth’s List endorsed candidates are well-trained and have access to a state-wide fundraising network. Click here to access the list of 2022 endorsed candidates. For membership information, visit https://ruthslistfl.org/get-involved/.

A 59% majority of US adults disapprove, with 41% approving. About half (52%) call the decision a step backward for America, with 31% calling it a step forward and 17% saying it’s neither.

Among women, two-thirds (67%) disapprove of the ruling, with just 33% approving. A 56% majority of women say that the decision will make the lives of most American women worse.