SACRAMENTO, Calif., November 13, 2025 — After doubling the number of women serving in California’s state legislature in less than a decade, Close the Gap California is expanding its proven, research-backed model to county boards across California and to statehouses in Florida and Ohio.
“Close the Gap has cracked the code for reflective representation,” said Susannah Delano, Executive Director of Close the Gap California. “We’re scaling our strategy to build pipelines of values-driven women for state and local offices. As federal protections for reproductive health, public education, and economic opportunity erode, downballot leadership is our best and last line of defense.”
Close the Gap’s early, targeted recruitment strategy has already transformed California’s political landscape. In just 10 years, the number of Democratic women in the state legislature has grown 104%, while California now triples the national average of women of color serving in elected office.
By strategically identifying districts and recruiting candidates years before elections, Close the Gap builds pipeline of leaders ready to run and win. Nearly half of current Members of Congress served in state legislatures. Recruiting diverse, values-aligned women locally strengthens the bench for higher office. “Focusing downballot is an investment in the long game,” Delano added.
Despite California’s progressive reputation – two out of three county supervisors in California are men, and fewer than half of the state’s 58 counties have even one woman of color on their boards. County supervisors oversee multibillion-dollar budgets that shape communities through decisions on health care, education, and infrastructure. Close the Gap will tackle this imbalance by preparing women to run for – and win – these powerful local positions, starting with 14 targeted counties.
Close the Gap California goes beyond talking about representation,” said Yvonne Wheeler, President of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. “Their strategic recruitment model identifies and prepares women to run for office, ensuring leaders who truly understand the struggles of working families and will champion policies that create opportunities for all.”
Following extensive research and collaboration with partners on the ground, Close the Gap is launching its national expansion in Florida and Ohio, two states where legislatures remain disproportionately male, white and conservative compared to their electorates. Nationwide, men still hold two-thirds of state legislative seats, and only three states have achieved gender parity.
Close The Gap is a nonprofit organization that recruits and prepares progressive women to run in targeted state and local districts. Close the Gap targets both open seats and swing districts held by Republicans and works closely with selected potential candidates years in advance of each election cycle. The women we recruit prioritize reproductive freedom, public education funding, and combating poverty.
They do not endorse, train or provide financial support to candidates.
For more information visit closethegapca.org.
