
State and Federal Districts 3/12 25%
County Offices 9/27 33%
Municipal Offices 18/63 29%
School Boards 19/31 61%
Township Offices 20/40 50%
Total 69/173 40%
https://www.hamiltoncounty.in.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15565/Hamilton-County-Elected-Officials
The national average for municipal and state offices is reported at about 32%. Hamilton County elects 25% more women to office than the national average.
https://19thnews.org/2021/04/women-elected-local-office-data/
https://cawp.rutgers.edu/facts/current-numbers/women-elective-office-2023
https://www.representwomen.org/2022_gender_parity_index
In the 2010 and 2012 elections Hamilton County elected 37% women to office, so the 2022 result is a small increase.
https://secure2.hamiltoncounty.in.gov/Elections/2010G/results/index.htm
https://secure2.hamiltoncounty.in.gov/Elections/2012G/results/index.htm
Nearby Marion County (Indianapolis) reports 38% female office holders.
https://www.indy.gov/activity/city-county-council-members
https://ballotpedia.org/Marion_County_Superior_Court,_Indiana
Indiana ranks below average on the somewhat inconsistent summary data available. In general, municipal elections are similar to state legislature results.
https://www.representwomen.org/2022_gender_parity_index
This source rates neighboring states as follows: Michigan 5th highest, Illinois 14th, Indiana 32nd, Ohio 43rd and Kentucky 47th.
Individual sources point to Indiana (27%), Ohio (29%), Kentucky (30%), Michigan (35%) and Illinois (41%) as the percentage of women office holders. Indiana is relatively low for the Midwest. Hamilton County is relatively high.
https://cawp.rutgers.edu/facts/state-state-information/kentucky
Susan Brooks and Victoria Spartz have represented Indiana’s 5th congressional district for the last decade.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana%27s_5th_congressional_district
Although Democrats have begun to stand up candidates for more offices and have won a small number of races, Hamilton County remains a Republican oriented county. Congresswoman Spartz won 54% and 58% of the vote in her 2 congressional races. Governor Holcomb won 61% in his 2020 re-election victory. President Trump received 52% of the local vote in his losing 2020 effort. US Senator Todd Young won 54% of the vote in his 2022 re-election campaign.
https://secure2.hamiltoncounty.in.gov/Elections/2020G/results/index.htm
https://secure2.hamiltoncounty.in.gov/Elections/2022G/results/index.htm
For a Republican leaning county, Hamilton County has a greater than expected share of women office holders. In Congress, women are one-third of Democratic seats and just one-sixth of Republican seats.
https://cawp.rutgers.edu/facts/current-numbers
https://www.axios.com/2022/08/09/party-control-state-legislature-republicans
Many notable officeholders have set the example for women in leadership in Hamilton County. Patricia Logan and Mary Sue Rowland led Noblesville from 1980-1991. Jane Reiman and Dorothy Hancock led Carmel from 1980-1995.
https://www.cityofnoblesville.org/department/division.php?structureid=269
https://www.carmel.in.gov/our-city/history
Kathy Richardson was elected county clerk in 1982 and has served in the Indiana house since 1992.
Gail Bardach served as a county judge from 2006-22.
Christine Altman has served as a county commissioner for 20 years since 2003.
https://www.in.gov/icw/about-icw/commissioners/the-honorable-christine-altman/
Summary
Hamilton County has been a Republican stalwart. Although women have been underrepresented by Republicans nationally, Hamilton County has elected many more Republican women to office than the overall national average.
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