Results from the May 12th Primaries in Nebraska and West Virginia

Toplines

Nebraska

• Cindy Burbank (D) won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Nebraska but has already said that she will drop out of the contest before the general election to provide a path to election for independent candidate Dan Osborn to challenge incumbent U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R). No Democratic woman has served in the U.S. Senate from Nebraska. 
• Women currently hold 0 of 3 (0%) seats in the Nebraska delegation to the U.S. House. The best chance for electing a woman to the U.S. House from Nebraska is in the 2nd Congressional District, where Denise Powell (D) won the Democratic nomination. This contest to replace Republican incumbent Don Bacon – who is retiring from Congress – is currently rated as “Lean Democrat” by Cook Political Report. Another Democratic woman nominee – Becky Stille (D) – is challenging incumbent Adrian Smith (R) in a House contest currently rated as “Solid Republican.” If either woman is successful, they would be the first Democratic woman to serve in Congress from Nebraska.
• Women are 3 of 9 (33.3%) major-party nominees for statewide elective executive office in Nebraska, including 3 of 4 (75%) Democrats and 0 of 5 (0%) Republicans. All Democratic women nominees, including gubernatorial nominee Lynne Walz (D), are challenging incumbent officeholders. 

West Virginia

• Incumbent Shelley Moore Capito (R) will run for re-election in an all-woman general election contest for U.S. Senate against Rachel Fetty Anderson (D) in West Virginia. The contest is currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report. Find out more about all-woman congressional and gubernatorial races, both in 2026 and historically, here.
• Women’s representation in the U.S. House from West Virginia is unlikely to change as a result of this year’s elections. Incumbent Carol Miller (R) will run for re-election in November in a contest currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report.

Nebraska

U.S. Senate

Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 1 of 2 (50%) major-party nominees for U.S. Senate in Nebraska. Cindy Burbank (D) won the Democratic nomination but has already said that she will drop out of the contest before the general election to provide a path to election for independent candidate Dan Osborn.

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Three (3R) women have served in the U.S. Senate from Nebraska, including current U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R). She is not up for re-election this year.

Women Candidates in 2026: Two (1D, 1R) women filed as candidates for U.S. Senate in Nebraska in 2026. They were 2 of 7 (28.6%) total major-party candidates for U.S. Senate in 2026.

Milestones to Watch in 2026: 

• No Democratic woman has served in the U.S. Senate from Nebraska. 

U.S. House

Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 2 of 6 (33.3%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Nebraska, including 2 of 3 (66.7%) Democrats and 0 of 3 (0%) Republicans. 

The number of women major-party nominees for the U.S. House matches the previous high (2). Of the 2 (2D) women nominees for U.S. House in Nebraska: one (1D) is running as a challenger and one (1D) is running for an open seat. Three (3D) women House candidates were unsuccessful. 

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 0 of 3 (0%) seats in the Nebraska delegation to the U.S. House. One (1R) woman has served in the U.S. House from Nebraska.

Women Candidates in 2026: Five (5D) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in Nebraska in 2026. This matches the record high. They were 5 of 15 (33.3%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2026.

Milestones to Watch in 2026: 

• No Democratic woman has served in Congress from Nebraska.
• No Latina has served in Congress from Nebraska.

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 3 of 9 (33.3%) major-party nominees for statewide elective executive office in Nebraska, including 3 of 4 (75%) Democrats and 0 of 5 (0%) Republicans. 

The number of women major-party nominees for statewide elective executive office matches the previous high (3). One (1R) woman statewide executive candidate was unsuccessful. All 3 (3D) women nominees for statewide elective executive office in Nebraska are challengers. 

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 0 of 6 (0%) statewide elective executive offices in Nebraska. Seven (4D, 3R) women have served in statewide elective executive offices in Nebraska.

Women Candidates in 2026: Four (3D, 1R) women filed as candidates for statewide elective executive office in Nebraska in 2026. This is not a record high. They were 4 of 17 (23.5%) total major-party candidates for statewide elective executive office in 2026.

Milestones to Watch in 2026: 

• No woman has served as attorney general in Nebraska.
• No woman has served as secretary of state in Nebraska.

West Virginia

U.S. Senate

Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 2 of 2 (100%) major-party nominees for U.S. Senate in West Virginia. Rachel Fetty Anderson (D) will challenge incumbent U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R) in an all-woman general election contest in November. 

The number of women major-party nominees for the U.S. Senate matches the previous high (2). One (1R) woman Senate candidate was unsuccessful. Of the 2 (1D, 1R) women nominees for U.S. Senate in West Virginia: 1 (1R) is an incumbent and 1 (1D) is a challenger. 

U.S. House

Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 1 of 3 (33.3%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in West Virginia, including 0 of 1 (0%) Democrats and 1 of 2 (50%) Republicans. 

The number of women major-party nominees for the U.S. House falls short of the previous high (4), first set in 2020. Two (2D) women House candidates were unsuccessful. 

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 1 of 2 (50%) seats in the West Virginia delegation to the U.S. House. Three (1D, 2R) women have served in the U.S. House from West Virginia. 

Women Candidates in 2026: Three (2D, 1R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in West Virginia in 2026. This is not a record high. They were 3 of 8 (37.5%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2026.

Statewide Elective Executive Office

There are no statewide executive elections in West Virginia in 2026.