Letter: More women needed in all elected positions

Although women make up 51% of the population in the United States, we do not see ourselves represented as elected officials in those same numbers.

From the Center for American Women and Politics, nationally recognized as the leading source of scholarly research and current data with regard to women's political participation in the United States, we have the following numbers regarding the current participation of women in elected office: United States Congress - 27.1%; Governorships - 18%; State Legislatures - 31.1%; Mayors in cities over 30,000 - 25.1%.

Is it better than it was 50 years ago? Yes. Is it good enough? An emphatic no. We need to double the number of women who run for office and, even more importantly, win.

An interesting point to consider, as well, is the partisan divide among currently elected women in partisan positions: you are twice as likely to be a Democrat, as opposed to a Republican.

As the president of the Democratic Women of DuPage County, we are doing everything in our power to encourage more women to run and to support their campaigns.

Dianne McGuire, President

Democratic Women of DuPage County