Legislature sees rise in diversity, drop in women
Number of nonwhite lawmakers increases from 47 to 53.
SACRAMENTO — The new California Legislature will look slightly more racially and ethnically diverse than the last, but the number of women among its members hasn’t been smaller in more than two decades, according to an analysis of preliminary 2016 election results from the California Research Bureau.
Of the 89 members in office, the number of nonwhite lawmakers has increased from 47 to 53, with gains made among Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino and multiracial lawmakers.
The rise in diversity is most pronounced in the Assembly, where the majority of legislators, 54%, are now minorities.
But the number of black lawmakers decreased by one. The total of female legislators dropped by four and stands at 27. The last time the number was equally low was in 1997-98, and there have not been fewer women in office since 1991-92.
Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), vice chairwoman of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, said the Democratic Legislative Women’s Caucus over the last two years “has worked to identify, recruit and help women run.” But leaders on both sides of the aisle need to replicate those efforts, she said.
“Unfortunately, there’s a real chance that not a single Republican woman will be elected this cycle to the Legislature, even though half were termed out,” she said.
All demographic groups saw decreases in the number of women except Latinas, who doubled their ranks
from five to 10 lawmakers, according to the report.
Assemblyman Luis Alejo (D-Salinas) said that was the result of a well-coordinated effort to close the gender gap led by the California Latino Legislative Caucus.
Latino lawmakers had been watching the number of women in office decline since 2014, Alejo said, and last year endorsed 10 Latina candidates out of the 14 they supported for the state Assembly and Senate.
Latinas saw wins in districts where Latinos had never held office, such as Monique Limon’s victory in Santa Barbara and Sabrina Cervantes’ in Riverside County.
“We were very strategic about recruiting, endorsing and financially supporting Latina candidates,” said Alejo, chair of the caucus. “We were very successful because of the early commitment and planning that we carried out this election cycle. But it’s not enough, and we are committed to increasing the overall numbers of women.”