Women make history in governor, congressional races in 2026 midterms

Voters in the November 3, 2026 elections set a record for women governors: at least 17 women will serve as governors in 2027, about a third of all states, up from the previous high of 14, according to Rutgers University's Center for American Women and Politics. Georgia, Tennessee and Minnesota will have their first woman governor, and Ohio its first elected one. Keisha Lance Bottoms becomes the first Black woman governor in U.S. history and Deb Haaland the first Native American woman governor. A record 101 women will hold statewide executive offices.

Some races were still uncalled when this was published, and the final count of women in Congress is not yet settled.