Amapá, a state in Brazil, is on track to potentially elect the highest percentage of women representatives in the forthcoming 2026 elections, based on its recent electoral performance. In the 2022 elections, Amapá recorded 27% of elected officials being women, which is significantly greater than the national average of 18%. This trend has been consistent, as Amapá also led the country in 2018 with a remarkable 30% of its elected officials being women, compared to a mere average of 16% for Brazil as a whole.

Contrastingly, states like Mato Grosso have been lagging significantly in terms of female political representation. In the last two general elections, Mato Grosso consistently ranked among the bottom states, with only 10.8% of elected officials being women in 2022, marking it as one of the poorest performers in the nation. This was an improvement from 8% in 2018, where it was only surpassed by Goiás, which had an even worse representation at 6%.

The stark contrast in female representation between Amapá and other states like Mato Grosso highlights ongoing discussions about the challenges and inefficiencies in achieving gender parity in political spheres. As Amapá prepares for another election cycle, the implications of its electoral diversity may prompt further scrutiny and motivation for reforms in states where representation remains disproportionately low. These findings are particularly relevant in the context of Brazil’s broader goals for gender equity in politics and governance.