research
Abuse of Power: revealing Sexual Harassment & Misconduct in congress (2026)
Since 2006, there have been at least 30 members of Congress from 13 states and Guam have faced public workplace sexual harassment allegations, totaling at least 53 accusations. When you include accusations of sexual misconduct outside of the workplace and instances that took place prior to serving in Congress, there are 49 members that have been accused publicly that include 137 accusations overall.
Abuse of Power: Uncovering Sexual Harassment in State Government (2025)
The new report updates NWDL’s ongoing tracking: Since 2013 there have been at least 424 incidents of sexual harassment committed by 162 sitting state lawmakers, with actual incidents likely three times as much due to underreporting by survivors and legislatures.
Abuse of Power: Uncovering Sexual Harassment in State Government - Report Update (2024)
The new report updates NWDL’s ongoing tracking: Since 2013 there have been at least 400 incidents of sexual harassment committed by 145 sitting state lawmakers, with actual incidents likely three times as much due to underreporting by survivors and legislatures.
National Survey of State Legislators on Legislative Workplaces (2025)
While addressing sexual harassment is NWDL’s primary focus, workplace harassment doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it happens in an ecosystem. This survey takes a wider lens to assess the legislative workplace more broadly when it comes to issues that also disproportionately impact women, including pay, benefits, family-friendly infrastructure and culture, as well as sexual harassment.
Abuse of Power: Uncovering a Decade of Sexual Harassment in State Government (2023)
Our inaugural report reveals that sexual harassment by sitting state lawmakers over the last decade is pervasive and ongoing: At least 134 statehouse lawmakers were accused of sexual harassment by 363 individuals since 2013 – with actual numbers likely three times as much due to under reporting by survivors and legislatures.