Voters Elect 17 Female Governors in Record-Setting 2026 Midterms
Historic firsts span from Georgia to Nebraska as women secure top executive roles and congressional seats.
By Lorenzo Patterson ·
Voters across the United States elected women to the highest executive offices in a record number of states on Tuesday.
According to Rutgers University's Center for American Women and Politics, female candidates won gubernatorial races in 17 states, establishing a new benchmark for women in state leadership.
Several of these victories represent the first time a woman has held the office in her respective state. In Georgia, Democratic candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms is projected to win, becoming the state's first female governor and the nation's first Black woman to hold the position. Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn is projected to win in Tennessee, marking the first time a woman has won a gubernatorial race there. In Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton is projected to become the first woman elected governor. Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Gina Hinojosa is projected to become the first Latina governor in Texas.
Other states with newly elected or reelected female governors include New Mexico, where Democrat Deb Haaland is set to serve, and Michigan, where Democrat Jocelyn Benson holds the office. Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders is projected to win in Arkansas, and Democrat Tina Kotek is projected to retain her seat in Oregon. Kelly Ayotte is projected to win in New Hampshire, while Amy Klobuchar is projected to win in Minnesota. In Rhode Island, Democrat Helena Foulkes is projected to take office.
The number of women running for these positions had already set a record before Election Day. Major parties nominated 26 women for governor, exceeding the previous record of 25 set in 2022. In the U.S. Senate, Democrat Peggy Flanagan is projected to win in Minnesota, becoming the first Native American woman to serve in the chamber. In Illinois, Democrat Juliana Stratton's projected win ensures three Black women will serve simultaneously in the Senate, joining Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland. Stratton's election also makes Illinois the first state represented by two women-of-color senators, as she will serve alongside Tammy Duckworth. In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews is projected to become the state's first elected female senator.
Historic firsts extended to the U.S. House of Representatives. In Colorado, Democrat Melat Kiros won the 1st Congressional District race, becoming the first Black woman elected to Congress in the state's history. In Nebraska, Democrat Denise Powell's projected win makes her the first Latina to represent the state in Congress.
Despite these individual milestones, the total number of women projected to serve in the 120th Congress is 139, a slight decrease from the 152 currently serving. However, 101 women will hold statewide offices after this election, the highest total to date. At least 18 Black women are set to serve in statewide elective executive offices, up from a previous record of 11.
