Future Forward Women, in partnership with Vote Run Lead, launches Shaping Power, Shaping the Future —  the first national, bipartisan study examining how women state legislators lead, sustain power and influence, and deliver results for women, families, and communities in today’s political landscape.

As nearly 5,000 women are projected to run for Congress and state legislatures in 2026, marking one of the largest cohorts in U.S. history–this landmark effort will generate real-time insight into what drives women’s effectiveness, the barriers they face, and the support systems that make leadership durable.

Because when leadership works, institutions work — and when institutions work, women and families thrive.

Collaborating partners include the Women’s Democracy Lab, Emerge, and Run for Something.

If you’re a woman leader: Take the Survey
If you support women leaders: Share
If you invest in leadership: Partner

New Mexico launched the nation’s first and only universal child care program.  Funded without new taxes, the plan saves families $12,000 per child, boosts women’s workforce participation, and fuels $900 million in annual economic growth. Our reporthighlights the policy design, financing mechanisms, and measurable economic benefits of the initiative.