While addressing sexual harassment is NWDL’s primary focus, workplace harassment doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it happens in an ecosystem. This survey takes a wider lens to assess the legislative workplace more broadly when it comes to issues that also disproportionately impact women, including pay, benefits, family-friendly infrastructure and culture, as well as sexual harassment. New survey data shows significant workplace concerns in statehouses for women and parents of young children, and strong support for legislative modernization. 

The new report updates NWDL’s ongoing tracking: Since 2013 there have been at least 400 incidents of sexual harassment committed by 145 sitting state lawmakers, with actual incidents likely three times as much due to underreporting by survivors and legislatures. NWDL’s Abuse of Power reporting continues to expose the widespread and persistent issue of sexual harassment among elected officials in red and blue statehouses alike across the nation and the continuing failure of state governments to adequately take action to address it.

Our inaugural report, Abuse of Power: Uncovering a Decade of Sexual Harassment in State Government, reveals that sexual harassment by sitting state lawmakers over the last decade is pervasive and ongoing: At least 134 statehouse lawmakers were accused of sexual harassment by 363 individuals since 2013 – with actual numbers likely three times as much due to under reporting by survivors and legislatures.