Results from Primaries in AZ, KS, MI, MO, and WA: Election 2022 is Breaking Records for All-Woman Gubernatorial Contests

CAWP Staff

LAST UPDATED: 8.18.22 5:30pm ET (final results)

Five primaries were held on Tuesday in Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, and Washington. Full context about women in the 2022 elections, including candidate lists, summaries, and historical comparisons, is available via the Center for American Women and Politics’ (CAWP) Election Watch.

Among the most notable results for women:

  • Five (3D, 2R) women won major-party nominations for governor. With these nominations, there are now a record number of women gubernatorial nominees in election 2022, as well as a record number of gubernatorial nominees in each party.
    • In Arizona, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) won the Democratic nomination and Kari Lake (R) won the Republican nomination for governor. This contest is currently rated as a toss-up by Cook Political Report.
    • In Kansas, incumbent Governor Laura Kelly (D) won the Democratic nomination to run for re-election in November. This general election contest is currently rated as a toss-up by Cook Political Report.
    • In Michigan, Tudor Dixon (R) won the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) in an all-woman general election contest currently rated as “Lean Democratic” by Cook Political Report. 
    • There are already 21 women gubernatorial nominees this year. The previous record of 16 was set in 2018. There are already 13 Democratic and 8 Republican nominees for governor this year. The previous records were 12 for Democrats, set in 2018, and 5 for Republicans, first set in 1996.
    • Prior to 2022, there were only four woman v. woman gubernatorial general election contests in U.S. history. After the August 2nd primaries, there are already five such races in the 2022 midterms.
  • Incumbent U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D) and Tiffany Smiley (R) were successful in Washington’s U.S. Senate primary and will advance to an all-woman general election contest currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report. Washington is one of four states currently represented by two women in the U.S. Senate (MN, NH, NV, and WA).
  • 14 (10D, 4R) of 15 women U.S. House incumbents have advanced to the general election in AZ, KS, MI, MO, and WA. Incumbent Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (R) was defeated in the top-two primary in WA-03. She is one of three women U.S. House incumbents defeated in primary elections thus far in 2022. 
    • 11 (7D, 4R) women U.S. House incumbents who won August 2 primaries are strongly favored to win re-election. This includes incumbent Representative Haley Stevens (D), who defeated incumbent Representative Andy Levin (D) in a competitive primary created by reapportionment and redistricting in MI-11. Learn more about reapportionment and the 2022 elections at our Redistricting Effects on Women Congressional Incumbents fact sheet.
    • 3 (3D) women U.S. House incumbents who won August 2 primaries – Representatives Sharice Davids (KS-03), Kim Schrier (WA-08), and Elissa Slotkin (MI-07) – will compete in general election contests currently rated as Democratic toss ups by Cook Political Report.
  • 3 (2D, 1R) women U.S. House incumbents in August 2 primary states did not run for re-election to the U.S. House. Representatives Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ) and Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) are retiring while Representative Vicki Hartzler (R-MO) ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Missouri. They are 3 of 16 women U.S. House incumbents not returning (as of August 9) to the U.S. House in 2023 due to retirement, running for other office, or primary defeat.
  • Of the non-incumbent women who have won August 2 primaries, 3 (2D, 1R) women are in contests currently deemed competitive by Cook Political Report.
    • Amanda Adkins (R) won the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent U.S. Representative Sharice Davids (D) in an all-woman general election contest in KS-03 currently rated as a Democratic toss-up by Cook Political Report. Davids defeated Adkins by ten points in the 2020 U.S. House contest in KS-03, but the district has since shifted from Democratic-leaning (D+3) to Republican-leaning (R+3) due to redistricting.
    • Former State Senator Kirsten Engel (D) won the Democratic nomination in AZ-06, an open-seat contest currently rated as “Lean Republican” by Cook Political Report.
    • Hillary Scholten (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary in MI-03. Due to incumbent Representative Peter Meijer’s (R) defeat in the Republican primary, Scholten will now run in an open-seat U.S. House contest against John Gibbs (R).  This general election contest is currently rated as a Democratic toss-up by Cook Political Report. Scholten was the Democratic nominee in MI-03 in election 2020, when she was defeated by Meijer by six points.

Arizona

Kansas

Michigan

Missouri

Washington

 

Arizona
 

U.S. Senate

Two (1D, 1R) women have ever served in the U.S. Senate from Arizona. Current U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D) was elected in 2018 and is not up for re-election this year. Martha McSally (R) was appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill a vacancy in 2019. She was defeated in her bid for a full term and left office in 2021.

No women were candidates in primary elections to challenge incumbent Senator Mark Kelly (D).

U.S. House

Women currently hold 2 (1D, 1R) of 9 (22.2%) seats in the Arizona delegation to the U.S. House. Seven (5D, 2R) women have served in the U.S. House from Arizona.

In 2022, 7 (1D, 6R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in Arizona.

Based on primary election results, women are 2 of 16 (12.5%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Arizona, including 1 of 7 (14.3%) Democrats and 1 of 9 (11.1%) Republicans. Five (5R) women candidates for the U.S. House were unsuccessful.

  • 1 (1R) of 2 incumbent U.S. Representatives is a nominee for re-election.
    • Incumbent U.S. Representative Debbie Lesko (R) was unopposed in the Republican primary in AZ-08. She is unopposed in the general election.
    • Incumbent U.S. Representative Ann Kirkpatrick (D) is not running for re-election this year.
  • 1 (1D) woman has already won a nomination for an open-seat U.S. House contest.
    • Former State Senator Kirsten Engel (D) won the Democratic nomination in AZ-06, a contest currently rated as “Lean Republican” by Cook Political Report.

Of the 2 (1D, 1R) women nominees for U.S. House in Arizona, both are white. All women who have served in the U.S. House from Arizona to date are white.

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Women currently hold 6 (4D, 2R) of 11 (54.5%) statewide elective executive offices in Arizona. 29 (17D, 12R) women have served in statewide elective executive offices in Arizona, including 4 (2D, 2R) women who have served as governor.

Eight of 11 statewide elective executive offices in Arizona are up for election in 2022. Only 2 of 5 seats on the corporation commission are up for election this year.

Seventeen (5D, 12R) women filed as candidates for eight statewide elective executive offices up for election in Arizona in 2022, including 4 (1D, 3R) women who filed as candidates for governor.

Based on primary election results, women are 7 of 15 (46.7%) major-party nominees for statewide elective executive offices in Arizona, including 5 of 7 (71.4%) Democrats and 2 of 8 (25%) Republicans. Ten (10R) women statewide elective executive candidates were unsuccessful.

  • 3 (2D, 1R) women incumbents are nominees for re-election in November.
    • Incumbent Corporation Commissioner Sandra Kennedy (D) won the Democratic nomination and will run for re-election in November.
    • Incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary. She will seek re-election in November.
    • Incumbent State Treasurer Kimberly Yee (R) won the Republican nomination and will run for re-election in November.
  • 4 (3D, 1R) women won nominations in open-seat statewide elective executive contests.
    • Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) won the Democratic nomination and Kari Lake (R) won the Republican nomination for governor. With Michigan's all-woman gubernatorial contest also set on August 2, there are now five woman v. woman gubernatorial contests set for November. Prior to 2022, there were only four woman v. woman gubernatorial general election contests in U.S. history. This all-woman contest is currently rated as a toss-up by Cook Political Report.
    • Former Corporation Commissioner Kris Mayes (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary for attorney general.
    • Lauren Kuby (D) won the Democratic nomination for the second corporation commissioner seat up for election this year.

Of the 6 (5D, 1R) women nominees for statewide elective executive offices in Arizona, 1 (1R) woman – Yee (treasurer) – is Asian American, 1 (1D) woman – Kennedy (corporation commissioner) – is Black, and 4 (4D) women – Hobbs (D, governor), Hoffman (D, superintendent of public instruction), Kuby (D, corporation commissioner), and Mayes (D, attorney general) – are white.

 

Kansas

U.S. Senate

Two (2R) women have ever served in the U.S. Senate from Kansas. Sheila Frahm (R) was appointed to fill a vacancy in June 1996 and served until November 1996. Nancy London Kassebaum (R) served in the U.S. Senate from 1978 to 1997. 

In 2022, 1 (1R) woman – Joan Farr (R) – filed as a candidate for the U.S. Senate to challenge incumbent Senator Jerry Moran (R). She was defeated in the Republican primary.

U.S. House

Women currently hold 1 (1D) of 4 (25%) seats in the Kansas delegation to the U.S. House. Six (4D, 2R) women have served in the U.S. House from Kansas.

In 2022, 2 (1D, 1R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in Kansas.

Based on primary election results, women are 2 of 8 (25%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Kansas, including 1 of 4 (25%) Democrats and 1 of 4 (25%) Republicans. No women candidates for the U.S. House were unsuccessful.

  • Incumbent U.S. Representative Sharice Davids was unopposed in the Democratic primary and will run in a general election contest currently rated as a Democratic toss-up by Cook Political Report. Davids is one of two Native American women in the U.S. Congress. She will be challenged by Amanda Adkins (R), who won the Republican nomination to challenge Davids in a woman v. woman general election contest in November. Davids defeated Adkins by ten points in the 2020 U.S. House contest in KS-03, but the district has since shifted from Democratic-leaning (D+3) to Republican-leaning (R+3) due to redistricting.

Of the 2 (1D, 1R) women nominees for U.S. House in Kansas, 1 (1D) woman – Davids – is Native American and 1 (1R) woman – Adkins – is white. 

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Women currently hold 2 (1D, 1R) of 6 (33.3%) statewide elective executive offices in Kansas, including governor. Twelve (5D, 7R) women have served in statewide elective executive offices in Kansas, including 3 (3D) women who have served as governor.

All statewide elective executive offices are up for election in Kansas this year.

Six (2D, 4R) women filed as candidates for six statewide elective executive offices up for election in Kansas in 2022, including 1 (1D) woman who filed as a candidate for governor.

Based on primary election results, women are 4 of 12 (33.3%) major-party nominees for statewide elective executive offices in Kansas, including 2 of 6 (33.3%) Democrats and 2 of 6 (33.3%) Republicans. Two (2R) woman statewide elective executive candidate were unsuccessful.

  • 2 (1D, 1R) women incumbents are nominees for re-election in November.
    • Incumbent Governor Laura Kelly won the Democratic nomination to run for re-election in November. This general election contest is currently rated as a toss-up by Cook Political Report.
    • Incumbent Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt (R) was unopposed in the Republican primary and will run for re-election in November.
  • 2 (1D, 1R) women won nominations to challenge incumbents in November. 
    • Jeanna Repass (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary to challenge incumbent Secretary of State Scott Schwab (R). If successful in November, she will be the first Black woman elected statewide in Kansas.
    • Katie Sawyer (R) won the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor as part of the gubernatorial ticket with Republican nominee Derek Schmidt (R).

Of the 4 (2D, 2R) women nominees for statewide elective executive office in Kansas, 1 (1D) woman – Repass (secretary of state) – is Black and 3 (1D, 2R) women – Kelly (D, governor), Sawyer (R, lieutenant governor), and Schmidt (R, insurance commissioner) – are white. All of the women who have served in statewide elective executive office in Kansas to date have been white. 

 

Michigan

U.S. House

Women currently hold 6 (5D, 1R) of 14 (42.9%) seats in the Michigan delegation to the U.S. House. Fourteen (11D, 3R) women have served in the U.S. House from Michigan.

Michigan has lost one U.S. House seat due to reapportionment.

In 2022, 21 (15D, 6R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in Michigan.

Based on primary election results, women are 7 of 25 (28%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Michigan, including 5 of 12 (41.7%) Democrats and 2 of 13 (15.4%) Republicans. Fourteen (10D, 4R) women candidates for the U.S. House were unsuccessful.

  • 5 (4D, 1R) incumbent U.S. Representatives are nominees for re-election.
    • Incumbent U.S. Representative Haley Stevens (D) defeated incumbent U.S. Representative Andy Levin (D) in MI-11. The two incumbents were pitted against each other in the primary due to reapportionment and redistricting. Stevens will run for re-election in November in a contest currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report.
    • Incumbent U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary in MI-06. She will run for re-election in a general election contest currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report.
    • Incumbent U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary in MI-07. She will run for re-election in a general election contest currently rated as a Democratic toss-up by Cook Political Report.
    • Incumbent U.S. Representative Lisa McClain (R) won the Republican nomination in MI-09. She will run for re-election in November in a contest currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report.
    • Incumbent U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib (D) won the Democratic nomination in MI-12. She will run for re-election in November in a contest currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report.
    • Incumbent U.S. Representative Brenda Lawrence (D) is not running for re-election this year.
  • 1 (1R) woman won a nomination to challenge an incumbent in November.
    • Whittney Williams (R) won the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D) in MI-06, an all-woman general election contest currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report.
  • 1 (1D) woman won a nomination for an open-seat U.S. House contest.
    • Hillary Scholten (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary in MI-03. Due to incumbent Representative Peter Meijer’s (R) defeat in the Republican primary, Scholten will now run in an open-seat U.S. House contest against John Gibbs (R).  This general election contest is currently rated as a Democratic toss-up by Cook Political Report. Scholten was the Democratic nominee in MI-03 in election 2020, when she was defeated by Meijer by six points.

Of the 7 (5D, 2R) women nominees for U.S. House in Michigan, 1 (1D) woman – Tlaib – is Middle Eastern/North African, 1 (1R) woman - Williams - is Asian American, and 5 (4D, 1R) women – Dingell (D), McClain (R), Scholten (D), Slotkin (D), and Stevens (D) – are white. No Asian American woman has ever served in Congress from Michigan. 

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Women currently hold 3 (3D) of 4 (75%) statewide elective executive offices in Michigan. Ten (5D, 5R) women have served in statewide elective executive offices in Michigan, including 2 (2D) women who have served as governor. Current Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) won election for the first time in 2018. She is the second woman governor of Michigan and is up for re-election this year.

All four statewide elective executive offices in Michigan are up for election in 2022.

Nominees for secretary of state and attorney general are selected at party conventions. The Democratic nominating convention is on August 20-21, 2022 and the Republican nomination convention is on August 27, 2022. Nominees for lieutenant governor are chosen by gubernatorial nominees after the primary and run on a single ticket with gubernatorial nominee in the general election.

Incumbent Governor Gretchen Whitmer was unopposed in the Democratic primary and will run for re-election in November. She will be challenged by Tudor Dixon (R), who won the Republican nomination for governor, in an all-woman general election contest. With Arizona's all-woman gubernatorial contest also set on August 2, there are now five woman v. woman gubernatorial contests set for November. Prior to 2022, there were only four woman v. woman gubernatorial general election contests in U.S. history. This general election contest is currently rated as “Lean Democratic” by Cook Political Report.

 

Missouri

U.S. Senate

Two (2R) women have ever served in the U.S. Senate from Missouri: Claire McCaskill (2007-2019) and Jean Carnahan (2001-2002).

In 2022, 4 (3D, 1R) women filed as candidates in the open-seat U.S. Senate contest.

Based on primary election results, women are 1 of 2 (50%) major-party nominees for U.S. Senate in Missouri. Trudy Busch Valentine (D) won the Democratic nomination and will run in a general election contest currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report.

Three (2D, 1R) women candidates for the U.S. Senate were unsuccessful, including incumbent U.S. Representative Vicky Hartzler (R) who decided not to run for re-election in the U.S. House in order to seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.

U.S. House

Women currently hold 3 (1D, 2R) of 8 (37.5%) seats in the Missouri delegation to the U.S. House. Eight (5D, 3R) women have served in the U.S. House from Missouri.

In 2022, 11 (6D, 5R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in Missouri.

Based on primary election results, women are 6 of 16 (37.5%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Missouri, including 5 of 8 (62.5%) Democrats and 1 of 8 (12.5%) Republicans. Five (1D, 4R) women candidates for the U.S. House were unsuccessful.

  • 2 (1D, 1R) incumbent U.S. Representatives are nominees for re-election.
    • Incumbent U.S. Representative Cori Bush (D) won the Democratic nomination in MO-01 and will run for re-election in a general election contest currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report.
    • Incumbent U.S. Representative Ann Wagner (R) won the Republican nomination in MO-02 and will run for re-election in a contest currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report.
    • Incumbent U.S. Representative Vicky Hartzler (R) did not run for re-election to the U.S. House. Instead, she was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate. 
  • 3 (3D) women won nominations to challenge incumbents in November. 
    • State Representative Trish Gunby (D) won the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent U.S. Representative Ann Wagner (R) in MO-02, an all-woman general election contest currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report.
    • Bethany Mann (D) won the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent U.S. Representative Blaine Leutkemeyer (R) in MO-04, a general election contest currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report.
    • Randi McCallian (D) won the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent U.S. Representative Jason Smith (R) in MO-08, a general election contest currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report.
  • 1 (1D) woman won nomination for an open-seat U.S. House contest.
    • Kristen Radaker Shaefer (D) won the Democratic nomination in the open-seat U.S. House contest in MO-07. This general election contest is currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report.

Of the 6 (5D, 1R) women nominees for U.S. House in Missouri, 1 (1D) woman – Bush – is Black and 5 (4D, 1R) women – Gunby (D), Mann (D), McCallian (D), Radaker Shaefer (D), Wagner (R) - are white.

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Women currently hold 1 (1D) of 6 (16.7%) statewide elective executive offices in Missouri. Current State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D) is not running for re-election in the state’s only statewide executive election this year.

No women filed as major-party candidates to fill the open seat of state auditor created by Galloway’s departure, all but ensuring that no women will serve in statewide elective executive office in Missouri in 2023.

 

Washington

U.S. Senate

Two (1D, 1R) women have ever served in the U.S. Senate from Washington: current U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D), who entered office in 1993 and is up for re-election this year, and current U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D), who entered office in 2001. Washington is one of four states currently represented by two women in the U.S. Senate (MN, NH, NV, and WA).

In 2022, 2 (1D, 1R) women filed as candidates for the U.S. Senate. Both women – incumbent U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D) and Tiffany Smiley (R) – were successful in the primary and will advance to an all-woman general election contest currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report.

U.S. House

Women currently hold 6 (4D, 2R) of 10 (60%) seats in the Washington delegation to the U.S. House. Twelve (7D, 5R) women have served in the U.S. House from Washington.

In 2022, 15 (9D, 6R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in Washington.

Washington state holds top-two primaries, meaning that all primary candidates run on the same ballot and the top two vote-getters – regardless of party – will advance to the general election. Washington also conducts elections by mail, which will slow the finalization of results.

Based on primary election results, women are 8 of 20 (40%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Washington, including 6 of 10 (60%) Democrats and 2 of 10 (20%) Republicans. Seven (3D, 4R) women U.S. House candidates were unsuccessful, including incumbent U.S. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (R). 

  • 5 (4D, 1R) incumbent U.S. Representatives are nominees for re-election.
    • Incumbent U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene (D) will advance to the general election in WA-01, a contest currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report.
    • Incumbent U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R) will advance to the general election in WA-05, a contest currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report.
    • Incumbent U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D) will advance to the general election in WA-07, a contest currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report.
    • Incumbent U.S. Representative Kim Schrier (D) will advance to the general election in WA-08, a contest currently rated as a Democratic toss up by Cook Political Report.
    • Incumbent U.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland (D) will advance to the general election in WA-10, a contest currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report.
    • Incumbent U.S. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (R) was defeated in the top-two primary in WA-03. She is one of three women U.S. House incumbents defeated in primary elections thus far in 2022. 
  • 3 (2D, 1R) women won nominations to challenge incumbents in November.
    • Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D) has advanced to the general election in WA-03, where she is likely to challenge incumbent U.S. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (R) in an all-woman contest currently rated as "Solid Republican" by Cook Political Report.
    • Natasha Hill (D) has advanced to the general election in WA-05, where she will challenge incumbent U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R) in an all-woman contest currently rated as "Solid Republican" by Cook Political Report.
    • Elizabeth Kreiselmaier (R) has advanced to the general election in WA-06, where she will challenge incumbent U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (D) in a contest currently rated as "Solid Democrat" by Cook Political Report.

Of the 8 (6D, 2R) women nominees for U.S. House in Washington, 2 (2D) women – Strickland and Jayapal – are Asian American, 2 (2D) woman – Strickland and Hill – are Black, 1 (1D) woman - Perez - is Latina, and 6 (4D, 2R) women – DelBene (D), Hill (D), Kreiselmaier (R), McMorris Rodgers (R), Perez (D), and Schrier (D) – are white. Incumbent U.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland (D) identifies as multiracial, both Asian American and Black. Natasha Hill (D) identifies as multiracial, both Black and white. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D) identifies as multiracial, both Latina and white. 

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Women currently hold 2 (2D) of 9 (22.2%) statewide elective executive offices in Washington. Neither women are up for election this year.

Just 1 of 10 statewide elective executive offices in Washington is up for election in 2022: secretary of state. This is a special election to fill a vacancy that is being held concurrently with regularly-scheduled elections.

One (1R) woman ran unsuccessfully as a major-party candidate in the open-seat contest for secretary of state.

All women who have served in statewide elective executive office in Washington to date have been white.

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For primary results summaries from other states and full results, including candidate lists, summaries, and historical comparisons, see CAWP’s Election Watch.

CAWP Staff