Max Out for Women #maxoutforwomen | @maxoutforwomen

Before the 2018 election, women made up nearly 25 percent of state legislature seats in the U.S. But that percentage drops in higher government offices — only 20 percent of seats in the U.S. Senate and just 19.4 percent in Congress. Data shows the fundraising gap has long-term effects.

Raising less money hurts a female candidate’s reputation of being a good fundraiser, earning her less prestige and lowering the likelihood that her party would nominate her to run for a higher office.

And women are only getting the money they need to win seats in their state legislatures, not the big fundraising totals that catch the eye of political influencers.

More importantly, female politicians can't necessarily count on female donors to help them get there.

Research revealed women tend to ignore gender and give money to the candidate they support most, male or female.

But men donate almost exclusively to male candidates.

Women donors are contributing at the highest levels, but women candidates are not the ones with big fundraising totals.

It's time to change that.

This election cycle, #maxoutforwomen.