How Common is it for Congresswomen to Become Governor?

Two (2D) congresswomen are major-party nominees for governor in 2025 in New Jersey and Virginia. 

• U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill (D) is the Democratic nominee for governor of New Jersey. She was first elected to the U.S. House in 2018 and is currently serving her fourth term representing New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District. 
• Former U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger (D) is the Democratic nominee for governor of Virginia. She was first elected to the U.S. House in 2018 and served three terms representing Virginia’s 7th Congressional District before forgoing a re-election bid in 2024 in order to run for governor. If elected in November, Spanberger will be the first woman governor of Virginia. 

How common is it for women officeholders to serve in both the U.S. Congress and as governor? Eight (5D, 3R) women officeholders have served as both voting members in the U.S. Congress and as governor. In addition, Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón (R) became governor after serving four terms as a U.S. Delegate to Congress.

• 6 (3D, 3R) women served in Congress before becoming governor: Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Mary Fallin (R-OK), Ella Grasso (D-CT), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), Kathy Hochul (D-NY), and Kristi Noem (R-SD).
• 2 (2D) women entered Congress after their time as governor: Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

To better quantify the commonality of these paths, consider the proportion of women officeholders in each position that have taken these paths. Specifically, 6 of 51 (11.8%) women governors took a path through Congress to the governorship and only 2 of 441 (0.5%) women who have served as voting members of Congress entered Congress after serving as governor.

In addition to the congresswomen running for governor on November 4, 2025, 4 (2D, 2R) congresswomen (former or current) have already announced non-incumbent bids for governor in 2026. They include: Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Deb Haaland (D-NM), Nancy Mace (R-SC), and Katie Porter (D-CA).

For more information on women officeholders and women running for office in 2026, visit CAWP's Women Elected Officials Database or Election Watch.

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