Women’s Role in the 2025 U.S. and Michigan Legislatures
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The newly elected U.S. Congress and Michigan legislature will bring significant changes in 2025. From shifts in party control to milestones in representation, this article highlights key takeaways on how these changes will impact leadership at the federal and state levels.
Overview of 2025 Election Results United States Federal Government
President
U.S. Senate
U.S. House
Michigan Government
Governor
The next election for the Governorship is in 2026, along with the Michigan Senate.
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate will not change because it was not part of this year’s election. The next election for the MI Senate is in 2026.
Michigan House
Key Takeaways as We Head Into 2025
The Number of Women in the Michigan House of Representatives Didn’t Change
Both the 102nd and 103rd legislatures have 40% women (44 congresswomen out of 110 seats).
Notably, there are approximately twice as many Democratic women as Republicans in the Michigan legislature. Democratic women also have diverse members, whereas Republican women are all white.
The Michigan Senate Didn’t Have an Election
The Michigan Senate did not have an election this year. However, Kristen McDonald Rivet, the Michigan Senator for District 35, won the election for U.S. House Representative for District 8, as the incumbent, Dan Kildee, was not seeking reelection. Jennifer Wortz, a Republican, won to replace Kristen for District 35, flipping the seat from blue to red. So, that would make 4 (R) and 12 (D) women out of 38 seats. That equates to 42% representation of women in the Michigan Senate. Almost 50%—driven by (D) women.
Women in the U.S. House of Representatives Decreased by 2 Seats
In the 118th Congress, women represented 28.9% of the electorate in the U.S. House of Representatives, 126 out of 435 seats, 92 Democratic women and 34 Republican women.?
In the 119th Congress, women are projected to represent 28.5%. Overall, they lost two seats, from 126 women to 124, 93 Democrat women (gained 1 seat) and 31 Republican women (lost 3 seats).
Notably, there are approximately three times more Democratic women in the U.S. House of Representatives than Republican women.?
Women in the U.S. Senate Increased by 2 Seats
In the 118th Congress, women made up 23% of the electorate, 23 out of 100. The 119th Congress will have 25% women, an increase from 23?out of 100.
For the first time, two black women will serve together in the Senate: Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Delaware) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Maryland)!
Democrats gained 3 seats, from 13 in the 118th to 16 in the 119th, and Republicans stayed 9 seats for both sessions.
Ages
The average age for women elected officials is 56 years old.
U.S. House Rep Grace Napolitano (D-CA) is 87 and the oldest serving member of the 118th Congress! She did not seek another term in the 119th and was replaced by Gil Cisneros (D).
Michigan House Representative for the 27th District, Rylee Linting, is the youngest member at 22 years old. She beat the Democratic incumbent, Jamie Churches, flipping the seat from blue to red.
As 2025 unfolds, the impact of these legislative changes will become clear. From new dynamics in Congress to Michigan’s evolving House, each shift marks an important step in shaping future policies and representation.
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