By Fátima Salazar
At first glance, Arizona might look like a national model for women’s political leadership. We’ve had five female governors, more than any other state, and women have historically held top statewide roles like Secretary of State and Attorney General. According to the 2025 Power and Influence Index Report by Feminist Future Works, Arizona ranks 10th overall in women’s power and influence across sectors. That ranking is a promising signal, but it doesn’t tell the full story. The truth is: Arizona still has a lot of work to do to ensure real equity and long-lasting influence for women in leadership.
In state politics, Arizona scores high in terms of women’s electoral representation, ranking 3rd nationally for women in statewide executive offices. As of the report, four out of nine statewide positions are held by women. However, when it comes to real legislative power, the picture dims. Women hold just 40% of committee chair positions in the Arizona Legislature, meaning that despite a near-parity in membership, men continue to dominate the roles that set the agenda and determine which bills move forward.
It’s also important to note that women in Arizona’s politics are far more likely to be Democrats than Republicans. Of the Democratic caucus in the state legislature, over 60% are women, while the Republican caucus remains overwhelmingly male. The Democratic Party in Arizona has been more intentional about building a diverse bench of women leaders, supporting candidates like Governor Katie Hobbs, State Senator Eva Burch, and Representative Alma Hernandez. But even among Democrats, women of color still face significant structural barriers; especially when it comes to campaign fundraising and media visibility.
Outside the realm of elected office, however, women in Arizona are underrepresented across other influential sectors. The state ranks 35th in women’s representation on corporate boards and 29th in women-led businesses. In media and public thought leadership, women are significantly underrepresented as opinion columnists, editorial leaders, and experts featured in news coverage. These sectors help shape public understanding and discourse; and without gender balance, the narratives remain incomplete.
Another major gap highlighted by the Index is the lack of intersectional equity. Across nearly all sectors, Indigenous, Latina, and Black women are less than half as likely as white women to hold positions of power. In a state where nearly 44% of the population is Latino or Native American, that disparity is both unjust and unrepresentative of the people Arizona serves.
The Power and Influence Index reminds us that winning elections is just one part of the fight. Real equity means changing the systems that concentrate power in the hands of a few and keep women; especially women of color, on the sidelines. Arizona has the talent. We have ambition. Now we need the will to make equity more than just a statistic, we need to make it a reality.
Sources:
Mason, C. N. (2025). U.S. Women’s Power and Influence Index Report. Future Forward Women. https://www.futureforwardwomen.org