April 30, 2024

Today, we unveiled early findings from the latest installment of Women, Money, & Politics Watch 2024, which is a resource that analyzes gender and campaign finance from both the recipient and donor perspectives, with additional examinations for race/ethnicity, party affiliation, and level of office. Our researchers delved into congressional elections in ten key states, which found that in eight out of those ten focus states, men's contributions to congressional candidates exceeded women's, although women comprised about half or more of all unique contributors in each state. Women are better represented as contributors to Democratic candidates compared to Republicans, but men dominate larger donations within both parties. Additionally, women donors from historically marginalized racial/ethnic groups are notably underrepresented in contributions. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing gender disparities in political financing as we approach Election Day 2024. 

Stay tuned for more insights from Women, Money, & Politics Watch 2024; we will provide more updates throughout this year’s elections as data becomes available and is analyzed.

As CAWP's 2024 Senator Wynona Lipman Chair in Women’s Political Leadership, U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA) spent a full day on campus last week. Senator Butler met with students in a "fireside chat" sharing the story of her career and her wisdom on women's public leadership.

In her public lecture, Senator Butler highlighted the importance of power and data in driving change. As the only Black woman currently serving and only the third Black woman in history to ever serve in the U.S. Senate, she underscored the significance of representation and the enduring legacy of leaders like New Jersey state Senator Wynona Lipman. The event, held in honor of Senator Lipman, and supported by the NJ State Legislature, celebrated her unwavering advocacy for women's rights and education in New Jersey. For those who missed it, we will be uploading the full video to our YouTube channel, so stay tuned. 

Primary elections were held last Tuesday, April 24th in Pennsylvania. Our team’s analysis on election outcomes shows that the gap in women’s representation persists: Pennsylvania will remain one of 17 states that has never sent a woman to the U.S. Senate. 

Learn more about how Pennsylvania women candidates, including U.S. House of Representatives and state positions, fared here. Additional context about women in the 2024 elections, including candidate lists, summaries, and historical comparisons, is available via the CAWP Election Watch.

May 15th Application Deadline: Ruth B. Mandel Dissertation Research Awards

In memory of the indomitable spirit of our founding co-director, Ruth B. Mandel, applications for the 2024 Ruth B. Mandel Dissertation Research Awards are open until May 15, 2024. 

We are grateful to Dr. Mandel's family for establishing the Legacy Fund, which allows us to support graduate students undertaking groundbreaking research in the field of women and American politics. These awards, valued at $2,000 each, help us to foster the next generation of gender and politics researchers and advance knowledge that propels progress for women in U.S. politics.

Please contact us at cawpgrants@eagleton.rutgers.edu for any questions.