Virginia ranks high for mom legislators with young kids

Virginia is among the states with the highest representation of legislators who are mothers with little kids, according to a new report.

Why it matters: State legislatures shape policies that directly impact families, but moms of small children remain vastly underrepresented in state capitols nationwide.

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The big picture: An estimated 85% of women become mothers by the time they hit 45. But about 25% of all state legislators were moms as of 2024, the analysis from the Vote Mama Foundation found.

• Just 8% are mothers with children under the age of 18. Barely 2% of mom legislators are women of color.

Data: Vote Mama Foundation report ; Note: Includes non-binary and gender non-conforming legislators, children who are under 18; Map: Axios Visuals

Zoom in: In Virginia, over 14% of state legislators — or 20 — are moms with young kids.

• That's the third-highest percentage in the U.S., behind only California and Minnesota.
• It's also more than double the percentage that the Vote Mama Foundation recorded for the state in 2022.
• To reach proportionate representation, per the report, Virginia's legislature needs six more moms.

What they're saying: Increasing pay, allowing remote voting options and providing on-site child care or child care stipends are a few changes that can "empower mothers to not only enter but thrive in office," says Virginia Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker in the report.

• She would know: Bennett-Parker gave birth while in office, becoming the fifth woman in the history of Virginia's House of Delegates to do so.

Zoom out: Nationally, the share of legislators who are moms with kids under 6 was just 2%.

• Alabama has no moms of young kids in its legislature.

What's next: Per the report, voters would need to elect more than 700 more moms to hit proportional representation nationwide.