Colorado was the first state to elect a woman to the state legislature. As of 2011, we rank 1st in the nation for the percentage of women state legislators. Good news. but it's not enough. Women make up only 41% of the state legislature today, and pro-choice, Democratic women account for an even smaller percentage. Colorado has never elected a woman as governor or to the U.S. Senate.

Electing more women is a matter of fair and equal representation. We need more women in the state legislature, on school boards, on city councils and county commissions. We need women who are Democrats, women who are pro-choice, women who just might be the next governor or senator to represent our beautiful state.

It's also about the way women lead. Prominent research groups - among them the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University and the Women & Politics Institute at American University - have spent decades studying women's leadership. They confirm that women tend to include diverse viewpoints in decision making, have a broader conception of public policy and offer new solutions.

The BlueFlower Project works to educate the public about the importance of women's leadership. We are a voice in the progressive community that ensures growth in the number of women elected to state and local office.

Our sister organization, the BlueFlower Fund is a Small Donor Committee, which can accept contributions of $50 per person per year. Combining those funds allows BlueFlower Fund to make contributions to women running for state and local offices. BlueFlower Fund contributions can be up to 10 times bigger than those permitted by individuals. Click here for more information about the Fund .