Pennsylvania not part of women's historic day in U.S. Senate

A record number of women were sworn in to the U.S. Senate Thursday morning - 20 in all - but none were from Pennsylvania, which is consistent if nothing else when it comes to senators.

Of the 59 Pennsylvanians who have represented the state in Congress' upper house, all have been white males. Its the largest state by population of the 19 that have yet to elect a woman or minority to the U.S. Senate.

"We've had some women penetrate the marble ceiling, but not many," said Dana Brown, executive director of the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics at Chatham University in Pittsburgh. "I call it the marble ceiling because have you been to Harrisburg or [Washington] D.C.?"

Pennsylvania's long history of government does not include much of a female presence, she said.

"There definitely are some states that are quote-unquote women-friendly states and congressional districts," Brown said. "Some states produce more women than others. And so it's a big question for us in Pennsylvania to create a pipeline here."

Forty-four women have served in the U.S. Senate - out of a total of 1,945 members since its creation on March 4, 1789. They've come from 25 states. Louisiana, Maine and Nebraska have had three each.

Brown said demystifying what it takes to run for public office and the political realm is one of the biggest challenges still confronting women and minorities.

"Women are generally turned off by the negativity and the lack of privacy in politics," she said, noting the perceived club feel of Washington D.C. and Harrisburg legislatures.

Her center runs an annual bi-partisan seminar called Ready to Run for Pennsylvania's prospective female politicians. Last year, the event was held in Philadelphia and attracted 60 women. This year's will be Jan. 12 in Pittsburgh.

"If you turn on the national news, you don't get that sense of few women. You see Nancy Pelosi or Barbara Boxer or Hilary Clinton," she said. "We want to work with the political parties to create women's political pathways."

Minorities have served in the Senate in far fewer numbers than women. Nine Hispanic Americans have served, including three from New Mexico. Seven African Americans have served, including two from Mississippi. Only three African Americans have been elected by popular vote, with two appointed by governors and two others appointed by the Mississippi State Senate - in the 1870s. U.S Senator Tim Scott was sworn in Wednesday to represent South Carolina. He was appointed by Gov. Nikki Haley.

Seven Asian Americans have served in the Senate, with five representing Hawaii. Two Native Americans have served: one from Colorado and another from Oklahoma.