The vast majority of congresswomen are Democrats; they outnumber Republicans three to one. At one point, the breakdown was fairly equal. Since the mid-1980s, Democratic women have increased their numbers six-fold. Female Republicans have barely doubled their standings.

GOP women earned several historic wins in 2014, but twice as many female Democrats as female Republicans ran in House, Senate, and governors' races. Republican women are far less likely to enter or win a primary election than their Democratic peers.

Political parties are hesitant to get involved in primary elections; most campaign funds come from PACs and individual donors. This money, however, is not readily available to Republican women. Without funding, female GOP candidates struggle to win their primaries, but they generally don't receive much party money until they do.

The underrepresentation of women in politics is a compelling catalyst for Democratic funders, but less so for Republicans. Democratic donors are significantly more likely than GOP donors to agree that women are excluded from political leadership. They often respond by writing a check or connecting candidates to their networks.

Women are often perceived to be more moderate politicians. But the female Republican candidates we studied were just as conservative as their male counterparts. Ideology scores for more than 10,000 congressional candidates over the past two decades reveal no significant differences by gender among Republicans. While they once were, GOP women candidates are not more moderate than men.

Our research reveals that twice as many independent women as independent men said they generally prefer a female candidate to a male. Women candidates are perceived by both Republican and independent voters to have an advantage on several key traits, notably working out compromises. Female voters in particular said that women have an edge over men in “keeping government honest” and “working out compromises.”

To remain relevant, the GOP can diversify its candidate pool, engage minorities and moderates, and put women on the ticket. To accelerate the recruitment of qualified women, the party can:

• Look beyond the informal male networks that typically recruit male candidates;
• Map potential resources and open seats, matching candidates to districts where women are more likely to succeed, particularly in states with strong infrastructure, a history of women's representation, and where multiple women currently serve in high-level office;
• Engage political mentors — especially current or former elected or party officials — who are instrumental in inspiring women to run; and
• Encourage current female Republican officeholders to work with parties, recruiters, and political groups on succession-planning, ensuring more women follow their path.

As our prior research indicates (hyperlink to LatinasRepresent research on Parity site), female candidates need early, tailored, and continual coaching and support. This includes:

• Training that focuses on the varying levels of political office, how to manage a campaign, build networks, fundraise, and engage donors and voters
• Hiring experienced campaign staff, from managers to fundraisers to social media experts
• Mentoring from political colleagues who will champion and support their journeys from campaign to Congress, and explain the nuts and bolts of public service, from raising funds to raising issues to raising children while in office.

From food to fuel, women purchase more than 50 percent of everything. But they account for only a quarter of all political contributions. Republican PACs can grow by targeting prospective women donors and encouraging them to support female candidates. Working together, women's PACS can broaden their memberships and create the infrastructure necessary to provide specialized training, expand mentorship, and build fundraising networks.