SACRAMENTO – With at least eight women legislators expected to term out or seek other offices in 2026 – and potentially more depending on political dominoes following the Prop 50 decision next Tuesday – the next election will determine whether California maintains its global leadership in gender representation or falls behind.
Just last December, California’s State Senate became majority women for the first time in history, and the Legislature overall has reached an all-time high of 49% women – just one seat shy of parity.
“It may look like a glidepath to 50%, but the reality is women need to win nine seats just to net one,” said Susannah Delano, Executive Director of Close the Gap California. “In the best case, California could make history as the first top-ten global economy led by a female majority legislature and a woman governor. In the worst case, we could slide back to one-third women, losing a decade of progress in a single election.”
With one year to go, the 2026 playing field is shaping up to be particularly dynamic, opening up new paths for women candidates. The political reshuffling of Prop 50 has created new opportunities, and the rising potential of a midterm blue wave has driven Close the Gap to be more aggressive in targeting Republican held seats. Close the Gap recruiters target districts that are open or flippable, equipping women to run and win. “Usually we finish recruiting one year ahead of the filing deadline,” said Julia Leitner, Close the Gap’s Recruiting Director. “But we spent this summer recruiting for newly emerging opportunities, and so far have increased our 2026 class by 40%.”
A report released this year by the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University validated Close the Gap’s model as uniquely effective. In just over a decade, Close the Gap’s strategy of identifying and recruiting progressive women early to run in winnable districts has transformed California’s political landscape. They have doubled the number of women legislators, with women now holding nearly half of all seats. Forbes recently proclaimed that “California provides a model for achieving gender parity in politics.”
“If parity were easy, we would have achieved it a long time ago,” Delano said. “Real progress requires year-round investment in the bench of women who are leading on the ground.
Close the Gap’s model of intensive recruiting and personalized coaching in targeted districts has accelerated progress in other dynamic moments. “It’s so important that women who have taken swift action to help their communities get tapped on the shoulder when there’s an opportunity to lead,” said Ana Palacio who is running for Assembly in AD 35. “When Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains jumped into the Congressional race, people in my community rallied behind me to succeed her in Sacramento.”
“Our state legislature is the single most reliable stepping stone to Congress,” Delano added. “If the bench at the state level falters, it impacts every level of representation.’ 47% of Members of Congress have previously served in their statehouse.
“Close the Gap knows how to find and prepare women for office better than anyone.” said Assembly Majority Leader and Class of 2016 Recruit Cecilia Aguiar Curry. “To ensure we reach gender parity – and keep it – we need a deep bench.”
So far, Close the Gap’s Class of 2026 includes:
- Annalisa Perea for AD 31
- Ana Palacio for AD 35
- Dr. Ida Obeso-Martinez for AD 36
- Deborah Klein Lopez for AD 42
- Leila Namvar for AD 47
- Clarissa Cervantes for AD 58
- Fatima Iqbal-Zubair for AD 65
- Dr. Sara Deen for AD 66
- Ada Briceno for AD 67
- Jessie Lopez for AD 68
- Natalie Rogers for SD 02
- Brittany McKinley for SD 24
- Mara Elliott for SD 40
