( NewsNation ) — In the new year, a record number of women will serve in the South Dakota legislature.
According to unofficial election results from the State Secretary’s office, thirty-nine female lawmakers will serve; up eight from the 2023-24 legislature.
“There’s lots of research showing that it makes a difference to have women in office in terms of the actual policy agenda that comes to the table,” Kelly Dittmar, director of research for the Center for American Women and Politics told South Dakota outlet Mitchell Daily Republic .
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“Not only what’s on the agenda, but the voices and perspectives brought to debates around those policy items.”
Female South Dakota lawmakers represent 37% of lawmakers in the state. Per the U.S. Census Bureau , South Dakota’s population is 49.2% female.
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