Women's political contributions in congressional races fall short of men's
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(New Mexico News Connection) A new analysis of money contributed to 2024 congressional candidates showed women contribute about as frequently as men but dollar amounts are significantly lower.
Kira Sanbonmatsu, senior scholar at the Center for American Women and Politics and lead author of the analysis, found women contribute more money to Democratic than Republican candidates and more money to women candidates than men.
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"Men have provided over 60 percent of all the money contributed to congressional candidates; 37 percent by women," Sanbonmatsu reported. "This reflects the larger contributions that men make."
She pointed out men's contributions more often go to Republican candidates. In New Mexico the race for the second Congressional District is considered one of the most competitive in the country. First-term Representative Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., is facing former representative Yvette Herrell, the Republican he defeated two years ago.
Sanbonmatsu noted women have contributed 42 percent of all money given to Democratic congressional candidates and only 29 percent of all money given to Republican congressional candidates.
"If you look at the number of individuals who are giving, not the money, we are finding that women are about half of donors," Sanbonmatsu explained. "In that sense, the participation rate is better than how much money is being contributed."
Women are candidates in all three of New Mexico's congressional districts. Sanbonmatsu added women from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups are especially underrepresented as donors to those candidates.
Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.
