Nevada is among the states with the highest proportion of women in the Legislature, although they're still underrepresented.
Women accounted for one-third of the 63 members in the Legislature last session. That ties the state for fifth place in terms of female representation, according to an analysis by The Associated Press of data collected by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Colorado leads the pack with 42 percent female legislators, while Vermont, Arizona and Washington come next. Minnesota ties with Nevada's 33 percent.
Wyoming is at the bottom with 13 percent.
The gender gap persists in other offices. Nevada's House delegation leans male and its voters have never elected a woman as governor or senator.
Meanwhile, 120 years after Utah elected the nation's first female state senator, the Utah state Legislature is among those with the lowest percentages of women.
Women make up half the state's population, but they're underrepresented in the state Senate and House of Representatives, where females account for 15 percent of the Legislature.
That makes Utah the eighth lowest in the country.
Utah women who work in politics say cultural forces at work encourage women to stay home rather than sacrifice time away from family to step into the spotlight and run for office.
