Our Mission
Close the Gap California is a statewide campaign to close the gender gap in the California Legislature by 2028.
How We Achieve Gender Parity
Since our launch in 2013, Close the Gap has been changing the face of the California Legislature one cycle at a time. Founder Mary Hughes and CTG’s founding mothers set us on the #PathToParity with their strategic vision. Today, 25 Close the Gap women are serving in Sacramento, and 18 of them are women of color.
We recruit accomplished, progressive women in targeted districts and prepare them to launch competitive campaigns. The women we recruit are positioned to lead on issues of equity in California, and to set the national gold standard for progressive policy and governance.
Less than a decade ago, only 26 of 120 California legislators were female. Following California’s first two Motherlode* election cycles in 2022 and 2024, 58 women serve today – a new all-time high of 48%.
Close the Gap’s proven strategy targets winnable legislative districts years in advance: we build and vet a list of diverse, progressive women with the skills and credibility to run strong. We then offer each prospective candidate encouragement, coaching and connections via a comprehensive, one-on-one exploration process. Our goal is to provide her the tools to make a fully informed, confident determination as to whether running for state office is right for her, and ensure she’s prepared to run competitively if she decides to launch a campaign.
Target
Open & Winnable Districts one cycle ahead
Recruit
Progressive Women
Explore
Winning Campaign Strategies
Partner
with Organizations & Leaders who share our values
Achieve
Gender parity in CA State Legislature by 2028
Close the Gap California is a registered 527 organization. We are not a political action committee and do not endorse, or fund candidates: We Recruit.
What We Stand For
We work only with women committed to these core progressive priorities:
Reproductive freedom
Public education funding
Combating poverty
We proudly uplift the good work of our Democratic women legislators, 20 of whom went through CTG’s exploration process.
Why Recruiting Has Been the Missing Link
With so many groups dedicated to supporting women candidates from traditionally underrepresented communities, Close the Gap’s impact is intentionally complementary and unique.
Why Recruit?
Because equal representation is a numbers game. Learn why recruiting is crucial to achieving parity.
Why the State Legislature?
It’s an essential stop along the path to achieving transformative change in politics for two main reasons.
Why California?
Investing in our own backyard matters. California is massive – in size, economy, and opportunity – and reliably provides a legislative blueprint for progressive policy in the rest of the nation.
Why 2028?
Because of the Motherlode of seats coming open between 2022 and 2028.
Why Women?
We know that when women are present at the decision-making table, policy priorities and outcomes shift — and they shift in ways that make a tangible difference to communities that have been left behind for far too long.
Here are a few of our key allies:
Join Us!
Our campaign is driven by a small staff as well as passionate, committed volunteers. Between now and 2028, 50+ seats will open, providing ample opportunity to bring our State Legislature to gender parity. We need help to recruit the future women legislators who will do it! We count on a team of volunteers to identify, ask, guide, and encourage potential candidates. Interested in becoming a recruiting volunteer?
