ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland has been among leading states in electing women to political offices for decades, but the state could have its first all-male congressional delegation in more than 40 years unless at least one of two Republicans or a third-party candidate wins in November in the heavily Democratic state.
Republican Marjorie Holt became Maryland's first elected congresswoman, serving seven terms from 1973 to 1987. Democrat Gladys Spellman served three terms from 1975 to 1981. They were followed by Republicans Helen Bentley, who served five terms from 1985 to 1995, and Connie Morella, who served eight terms from 1987 to 2003.
And Sen. Barbara Mikulski, a Democrat, is the longest-serving woman in the history of the U.S. Congress.
But Mikulski's retirement next year could leave Maryland without a woman in the 10-member delegation.
Delaware
DOVER, Del. (AP) - The First State is still waiting for its first female member of Congress.
Data compiled by The Associated Press show that Delaware is among 22 states that have never had a female U.S. senator, and one of six that has never had a U.S. House member.
The 15 women serving in the state legislature comprise 24 percent of the total legislative seats in a state that's 52 percent female.
Delaware has had one female governor, Democrat Ruth Ann Minner, who served from 2001 to 2009.
There's just woman serving as mayor of a sizeable town. She's Polly Sierer, mayor of Newark.
Nationally, women account for one-fifth all U.S. representatives and senators, and one in four state lawmakers.
Virginia
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - It's rare to find agreement between Republicans and Democrats in Virginia politics, but several members of both parties agree on one thing: there are not enough women being elected to state offices in the Old Dominion.
Both sides said they've made recruiting women candidates a top priority, but those efforts have yet to bear much fruit.
Less than 1 out of every 5 lawmakers is female, and no woman has held a statewide office in two decades, when Mary Sue Terry served as attorney general in the 1990s.
Women on both sides of the aisle say it is Virginia's loss that there aren't more women serving, as women tend to work more collaboratively and are less ego-driven than their male peers.
