PCWP Impact
The PCWP has played a role in increasing gender diversity in our state’s legislature
When the PCWP was
first establish in
1998
women comprised only
12%
of the PA state legislature
The Center’s Ready to Run
Campaign Training program has trained close to
1,500 women
Alumnae of Ready to Run are serving
on all levels of government
5 OF THE 10 WOMEN SERVING IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE FROM ALLEGHENY COUNTY
participated in the PCWP’s Ready to Run Campaign Training program
Today, in
2026
women hold
32%
of the PA state legislature
ONE OF PENNSYLVANIA’S FOUR CONGRESSWOMEN, Chrissy Houlahan, participated in Ready to Run
“When I decided to run for Congress, I was a newbie – I’d never even considered running for anything before then. What I knew was that I needed practical, nonpartisan advice from smart people who understood intimately what I was going through. I’m so, so grateful to Ready to Run for helping me when I needed it most.”
— Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan
The PCWP has impacted young women participants of New Leadership Pennsylvania
100%
of participants agreed or strongly agreed that New Leadership increased their understanding of politics and public policy
97%
of participants agreed or strongly agreed that the program increased their interest in politics and public policy
97%
of participants agreed or strongly agreed that the program gave them greater confidence in their ability to create political change
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT & DEMOCRATIC LEARNING
Chatham’s student voting rate in 2020 was
76%
an increase of
11.7%
from the 2016 presidential election
