Politics on the Hudson

When the 110th Congress starts work in January, it will include more women than ever before: in greater numbers, in more powerful positions, with many congresswomen propelled to office by female-focused fundraising efforts, the Center for Responsive Politics reports today.

But women are still under-represented as candidates and donors, according to the non-partisan, non-profit research group which tracks money in politics and its effect on elections. Just 16 percent of the new Congress will be female and money plainly plays a role. Women contributed only 27 percent of this past election’s larger campaign donations, the center reports.

In the contest to become House majority leader, John Murtha got the backing of Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi, but Steny Hoyer had the money. Hoyer, the Maryland congressman who decisively won the high-profile position Nov. 16, contributed far more money to fellow House members than Murtha and it paid off, the center notes.