Women's Public Leadership Network (WPLN) is excited to continue our podcast series, Tips From The Trail, hosted by WPLN Founder & President Larissa Martinez, where we explore the path to political office, from the decision to run to election day.
This special episode was recorded live at WPLN’s 2026 National Summit in Philadelphia and features a conversation on the current state of women’s representation in America. Larissa was joined by Debbie Walsh, Director of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University, and Amanda Iovino of Pantheon Insights to discuss the latest research, data, and trends shaping women’s leadership.
See highlights from the discussion below and listen to the full episode for additional insights.
Women Remain Underrepresented: Despite record numbers of women serving in public office, women still hold less than one-third of elected positions at most levels of government. While progress has been made over the last several decades, the panel emphasized that there is still significant room for growth, particularly when it comes to ensuring women are represented across political parties and at every level of leadership.
Women Need to Be Recruited: One of the strongest themes from the discussion was the importance of intentional recruitment. While it’s a myth that women need to be asked a specific number of times, it’s true that women are less likely than men to view themselves as candidates without encouragement from others. The panel noted that what matters most is a meaningful invitation and vote of confidence from trusted leaders and peers.
Women Bring Different Perspectives to Public Service: The panel highlighted the value of having women at decision-making tables. Women often enter politics with different life experiences, professional backgrounds, and motivations for serving. These experiences shape how they approach policy challenges and help ensure that a broader range of perspectives are represented in government.
Authenticity Matters: For years, women candidates were often advised to downplay aspects of their personal lives in order to appear more "electable." Today, that is changing. Women are increasingly able to talk openly about their experiences as mothers, caregivers, professionals, and community leaders. Those experiences not only make them more relatable to voters but also help them connect policy decisions to real-world challenges.
Community Engagement Creates Future Leaders: The conversation also explored how civic engagement can serve as a pipeline to public service. Whether through nonprofits, volunteer work, advocacy, or community organizations, women are already building leadership skills that translate directly into elected office. The challenge is helping more women recognize that those experiences prepare them to lead.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the panel reminded attendees that the future of representative government depends on broad participation. Building the next generation of women leaders will require intentional recruitment, strong support systems, and continued investment in women who are ready to serve.
If you're considering a run for office, remember that your experiences matter. Whether you've led in your profession, volunteered in your community, raised a family, or advocated for an issue you care about, those experiences can prepare you for public leadership.
Explore WPLN's free candidate training resources on our website to learn more about how you can take the next step and check out our upcoming events where you can register for virtual and in-person programs and connect with a national network of women leaders.
Check out the full episode on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts!
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Debbie Walsh is the Director of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University, a nationally recognized research institution focused on women's political participation and leadership.
Amanda Iovino is an award-winning pollster and data strategist and the co-founder of Pantheon Insights, where she specializes in voter behavior, public opinion research, and political strategy.
WPLN, is a national nonprofit educating, organizing, and inspiring center- and right-leaning women to seek public office at all levels across the U.S. and become effective leaders. The views and policy positions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not represent endorsement by WPLN.