As New York gears up for its upcoming primaries to select a new mayor and city council members, the journey toward achieving gender parity in the city’s political landscape warrants a closer look.
Historically, the New York City Council, comprised of 51 members, has been predominantly male. Prior to 2021, female representation peaked at just 18 seats, accounting for over 35% of the council.
The introduction of ranked choice voting (RCV) in 2021 dramatically shifted this dynamic, enabling the election of a women-majority council for the first time and increasing female representation to an unprecedented 31 seats.
Research indicates that RCV enables a more favorable environment for women candidates by alleviating fears of vote-splitting among similar candidates—encouraging more women to enter races. This trend isn’t limited to New York; similar outcomes have been observed across multiple cities.
In a notable achievement, St. Paul, Minnesota, elected an all-female city council in 2024, marking a first for the city and a significant milestone for major U.S. cities. Additionally, six of the seven council members were women of color, all under 40 years old.
Across various regions, including conservative states like Utah and Alaska, and liberal areas like California, RCV has spurred increased female participation and success in elections. Alaska, for the first time, witnessed more women than men elected to its state legislature in 2024.
In Utah, over a dozen cities using RCV have reported that women now occupy 40% of council seats. Portland, Oregon, utilized proportional ranked choice voting for the first time in 2024 and achieved a city council that mirrors the community it serves, achieving gender balance. Oakland has now elected four consecutive female mayors, all chosen through RCV.
According to data from RepresentWomen, by January 2024, women held 53% of council seats across 41 cities that implemented ranked choice elections. In stark contrast, women in the 100 largest cities in the United States held only about one-third of these positions.
RCV enhances voter engagement by offering more candidates and thereby generating more varied and representative outcomes. Voters often face challenges in single-choice elections, attempting to gauge the viability of their preferred candidates or settle for less favored yet more competitive options. This system often disadvantages women and candidates of color, who are frequently advised to “wait their turn” for a political opportunity.
Under RCV, voters can rank their preferred candidates, allowing votes for subsequent choices if a top candidate does not secure a majority. This process eliminates vote-splitting concerns and keeps more candidates actively campaigning, which fosters a healthier political discourse focused on broad appeal rather than narrow targeting.
Voter data from the 2021 mayoral primary indicates that 87% ranked at least two candidates, showcasing the electorate’s desire for choice. Notably, this election saw historic firsts in representation, including Crystal Hudson and Kristin Richardson Jordan, the first openly gay Black women in the council, and other diverse members, including the first Muslim woman, the first Colombian American, and Asian American representatives.
The increase in women’s political representation has already led to significant policy initiatives, such as enhancements in childcare services, maternal health advocacy, pay equity efforts, and actions against price gouging in basic goods.
As New York approaches its primaries, while discussions may center on familiar names and traditional power dynamics, the implications of RCV reveal a potential for advancing a more just and equitable political framework. Observers are keen to see which candidates may emerge as symbols of this ongoing transformation in democratic representation.
Despite a slow national progress toward gender equity in political offices, evidenced by the lack of a female president and the low percentage of women in state legislatures, cities employing RCV demonstrate a pathway toward substantive change in the political arena.
Reflecting on these progressions, it’s clear that reforming electoral rules can enhance voter options and expand political opportunities, eventually leading to greater equity in leadership roles across the United States.
Cynthia Richie Terrell serves as the executive director of RepresentWomen, focusing on overcoming barriers to women’s political leadership. Ebonie Simpson leads The New Majority NYC, a nonprofit committed to fostering political power among women.
