NJ May Send Record Number Of Women To Congress: 2024 Election

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey will likely be sending four women to the halls of Congress in the wake of the 2024 election, a new milestone for the state.

The Passaic County Democratic Committee selected Pou as their nominee for U.S. House after longtime U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell died in August.

Pou currently serves as a state senator in New Jersey’s 35th Legislative District. The lawmaker was born and raised in Paterson; her parents came to the Garden State from Puerto Rico in 1953.

Pou – who has claimed victory in the still-uncertified race – said she will be the first Latina to represent the district if the results hold up. The 9th District contains 35 municipalities in three different counties: 24 in Bergen County, 9 in Passaic County, and 2 in Hudson County. The district office is in Paterson.

New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy cheered for Pou’s projected victory, predicting that the four Democratic lawmakers will be a “powerhouse contingent for us in Washington.”

McIver, Sherrill and Watson Coleman have each won re-election in their own districts, the Associated Press is projecting.

WOMEN IN CONGRESS

The Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, also said that Pou’s election would set a new record for the state.

It’s been an election cycle filled with highs and lows for women on the federal stage, the center noted.

Although New Jersey sent its Electoral College votes Kamala Harris’ way, it wasn’t enough to overcome Donald Trump’s projected victory. Read More: See Latest NJ Vote Totals As Trump Projected To Win Presidency

McIver said it “hurt to tell my daughter that we had lost the presidential campaign this morning,” adding that the only choice was to “move forward and fight.” It was a message that the CAWP also championed in the wake of Election Night.

“Progress is not inevitable,” the center wrote. “Once again, a woman has reached for the highest office in American politics, has come close to breaking that barrier, but ultimately was not elected.”

The CAWP continued:

“Kamala Harris’ candidacy exemplified a good deal of what our research tells us about women’s advantages as candidates and officeholders. She was a formidable fundraiser. She connected with voters on issues important to her and to them. Her identity provided her with unique perspectives on overlooked issues. Unfortunately, this contest also exemplified research on the obstacles women face when running for office, chief among them the unequal expectations placed upon women, and women of color in particular, who run for office. The day will come when America elects a woman president. In the meantime, we continue to celebrate the progress that has carried us to this moment. Women are serving as mayors, as state legislators, as governors, as representatives, as senators, as the highest leaders in legislative chambers both state and national, and, of course, as the vice president of the United States. They have held every political office in America. Except one.”

“But we must also acknowledge all else that remains undone,” the CAWP said. “Women still hold fewer than a third of all political seats at every level of office. We have made great strides, yes, but there are many steps left on the path to parity.”

“The work continues,” the group added.

Here are some other significant numbers and milestones that come in the wake of Tuesday’s election, according to the CAWP (see their updated post here):

• Women in the 119th Congress – Thus far, 125 (88D, 37R) women will serve in the 119th Congress in 2025 (current record: 151, set in 2023). They will be at least 23.4% of all members of Congress. Currently, 151 (107D, 43R, 1Ind) women serve in the U.S. Congress, holding 28.2% of all seats. Forty-five (34D, 11R) women candidates remain in congressional contests that are too close to call.
• Women in the U.S. Senate – Thus far, 22 (13D, 9R) women will serve in the U.S. Senate in 2025 (current record: 26, first set in 2020). They will be at least 22% of all members of the Senate. Currently, 25 (15D, 9R, 1Ind) serve in the U.S. Senate, holding 25% of all seats. Five (3D, 2R) women candidates remain in U.S. Senate contests that are too close to call.
• Women in the U.S. House – Thus far, 103 (75D, 28R) women will serve in the U.S. House in 2025 (current record: 126, set in 2023). They will be at least 23.7% of all members of the U.S. House. Currently, 126 (92D, 34R) women serve in the U.S. House, holding 29% of all seats. Forty (31D, 9R) women candidates remain in U.S. House contests that are too close to call.
• Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) will be the first Black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate from Maryland.
• Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) will be the first woman to serve in the U.S. Senate from Delaware. She is also the first Black woman to represent the state in the Senate. With the success of Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester, the U.S. Senate will for the first time have two Black women senators serving simultaneously.
• Yassamin Ansari (D, AZ-03) will be the first Middle Eastern/North African woman to represent Arizona in the U.S. Congress.
• Julie Fedorchak (R, ND-AL) will be the first woman to represent North Dakota in the U.S. House.
• Sarah McBride (D, DE-AL) will be the first openly transgender person to serve in the U.S. Congress. She will hold Delaware’s at-large U.S. House seat.

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