Education

Bet You Didn’t Know

Surprising facts about women in California politics that reveal just how deep — and how early — their impact on this state truly goes.

California Women Voted Nine Years Before the Nation

Women in California gained voting rights in 1911 — nine years before the 19th Amendment extended that right to women across the United States in 1920.

Four Women Were Elected to the Legislature in 1918

In the first election after women gained the right to hold office, four women with ties to UC Berkeley were elected to the California Assembly: Esto Broughton, Grace Dorris, Elizabeth Hughes, and Anna Saylor.

Only 192 Women Out of 4,444+ Total Legislators

Since 1919, only 192 women have served in the California Legislature — out of more than 4,444 total individuals elected. That means women have made up fewer than 5% of the state’s elected legislators over more than a century.

The Women’s Caucus Wasn’t Officially Recognized Until 1985

The bipartisan California Women’s Caucus was officially recognized by the Joint Rules Committee in 1985. Teresa Hughes was elected as its first chairwoman.

Fourteen Women Formed the Original Caucus

When the Women’s Caucus was formed, just fourteen women made up its membership — including Sunny Mojonnier (#30), Gloria Molina (#31), and Maxine Waters (#20), each of whom would go on to historic careers in public service.

The Oldest Living Former Legislator Was 96

As of March 2022, Marion La Follette (#26) was the oldest living former California woman legislator at 96 years old — a living link to the earliest generations of women in the Capitol.

The Youngest Woman Ever Elected Was 26

Esto B. Broughton (#1) was just 26 years old when she was elected to the California Assembly in 1918 — making her not only the first woman elected, but also the youngest woman ever elected to the California Legislature.

The Forget-Me-Not Is the Foundation’s Official Flower

The light purple Forget-Me-Not was adopted in 2014 as the official flower of the WICP100 Foundation — a symbol of remembrance woven throughout the museum’s identity and design.