Democracy Solutions Series - The State of the Primaries & Women's Representation Webinar

The primaries aren’t just a procedural step — they are where representation is won or lost. Early voting is already underway in Washington, DC’s first ranked choice election, and Maine is using ranked choice voting in today’s primaries. These are historic moments for voter choice, and we are keeping a close eye on these elections in the coming days. RepresentWomen hosted a one-hour webinar to unpack how the primaries are structured, and what this means for women’s representation across the country. Beth Hladick, Policy Director at Unite America, walked us through the nationwide primary landscape and how the Primary Problem impacts women. We also heard from women leaders on the ground in New Mexico from NM Voters First and from Bianka Emerson, President of Colorado Black Women for Political Action, on the unique barriers Colorado's primary process creates for women, especially women of color, who are trying to make it onto the ballot, and what in-state organizations are doing to change that. The discussion was grounded in fresh data analysis from the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), along with additional key updates from partners who have shared insights from across the country on how the primaries have unfolded so far.