Women and Politics in Northwest Ohio and Beyond

Did you know that at the current rate, it will take at least 60 years to achieve reflective gender representation in state governments? Change comes slowly, but the electoral activity of 2025 demonstrated that women continue to play a decisive role — whether as lawmakers on Capitol Hill, in statehouses and mayors’ offices across the country, or as a powerful voting bloc — in political outcomes and policymaking. Women turned out at higher rates than men in 2025 and comprised a majority of participating voters, and those historic gender gaps within the electorate reshaped the political landscape. That included a 17-point gender gap in Virginia’s governors’ race, propelling Abigail Spanberger to become the state’s first woman governor. And a 13-point gender gap led Mikie Sherrill to likewise make history in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race. The books listed below highlight women who have made an impact on politics in U.S. history.

But what does the political landscape look like for women in Northwest Ohio for 2026? Amy Acton is hoping to become Ohio’s first female elected governor (Nancy Hollister served as governor for 11 days after George Voinovich resigned in 1998). Marcy Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in congressional history, is running again this year in a newly created district. The new maps could take Ohio’s current 10-5 Republican-to-Democratic-split to a potential 12-3 divide, based on the likely voter index. What races are you watching this election cycle? Please join us for our discussion on Wednesday, August 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Kent Library, where we will discuss issues and topics that affecting women including the SAVE America Act, recent Supreme Court decisions, the Voting Rights Act, and more.