Super Tuesday: Results from March 5th Primaries in Alabama, Arkansas, California, North Carolina, and Texas

LAST UPDATED: May 15, 2024 (6:00am ET)

Five primaries were held on Tuesday in Alabama, Arkansas, California, North Carolina, and Texas. Full context about women in the 2024 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:

  • Alabama
    • No change is likely in Alabama’s congressional delegation. Of the three women who won nomination, 1 (1D) is an incumbent in a race that favors her party and 2 (1D, 1R) are running in contests that favor their opponents. Just one woman represents Alabama in Congress, Democrat Terri Sewell.
  • Arkansas
    • Arkansas, which is currently represented by zero women in Congress, will likely see no change for women’s representation in its congressional delegation. Both women nominees are challengers to incumbents who are strongly favored to win re-election.
  • California
    • For the first time in 32 years, California will not be represented by at least one woman in the U.S. Senate, as both candidates who advanced in California’s top-two primary for Senate are men. California is also the first state to have been represented by two women in the Senate.
    • Two sitting congresswomen were defeated in bids for Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. They join 2 (2D) women incumbents retiring from office.
  • North Carolina
    • Laurie Buckhout is the Republican nominee in North Carolina’s 1st congressional district, currently rated as a toss-up. Incumbent Kathy Manning (D) did not run for re-election, so North Carolina has the potential to maintain representation in its congressional delegation.
    • Incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt (R) was defeated by Republican primary challenger Michele Morrow.
  • Texas
    • There will be woman vs. woman rematches in Texas’ 15th, 16th, and 18th congressional districts. Learn more about these races through history at Woman vs. Woman: Congressional and Gubernatorial Races.
    • Former Representative Mayra Flores is the Republican nominee in Texas’ 34th congressional district; she lost a race for this seat in 2022. Learn more about women who are mounting challenges in 2024 after a previous election loss at Rebound Women Candidates in 2024 Elections.

Alabama

U.S. Senate

There is no U.S. Senate election in Alabama in 2024.

U.S. House

Women Nominees in 2024: Based on primary election results, women are 3 of 11 (27.3%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Alabama, including 2 of 4 (50%) Democrats and 1 of 7 (14.3%) Republicans. The number of women major-party nominees for the U.S. House falls short of the previous high (5), first set in 2022. 

Eight (3D, 5R) women House candidates were unsuccessful. Of the 3 (2D, 1R) women nominees for U.S. House in Alabama: 1 (1D) is an incumbent, 1 (1D) is a challenger to an incumbent, and 1 (1R) is running for an open seat.

District Woman Nominee Party Seat Status Race/Ethnicity Current Cook Political Report Rating
2 Caroleene Dobson R Open Seat White Likely Democrat

6

Elizabeth Anderson

D

Challenger

White

Solid Republican

7

Terri Sewell

D

Incumbent

Black

Solid Democrat

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 1 (1D) of 7 (14.3%) seats in the Alabama delegation to the U.S. House. Three (2D, 1R) women ever served in the U.S. House from Alabama.

Women Candidates in 2024: Eleven (5D, 6R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in Alabama in 2024. This marks the highest number of women running for the U.S. House in Alabama between 1990 and 2024. They were 11 of 36 (30.6%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2024.

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Women Nominees in 2024: Incumbent Public Service Commission President Twinkle Cavanaugh (R) won the Republican nomination in the only statewide executive primary held on March 5. She is currently running unopposed in the general election contest. 

District Woman Nominee Party Seat Status Race/Ethnicity Current Cook Political Report Rating

Public Service Commissioner

Twinkle Cavanaugh

R

Incumbent

White

N/A

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 2 (2R) of 10 (20%) statewide elective executive offices in Alabama. Eighteen (13D, 5R) women have served in statewide elective executive office in Alabama. 

Women Candidates in 2024: Cavanaugh was the only woman who filed as a candidate for the only statewide elective executive office up for election in Alabama in 2024: Public Service Commissioner. She is 1 of 2 (50%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2024.

Arkansas

U.S. Senate

There is no U.S. Senate election in Arkansas in 2024.

U.S. House

Women Nominees in 2024: Based on primary election results, women are 2 of 8 (25%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Arkansas, including 2 of 4 (50%) Democrats and 0 of 4 (0%) Republicans. The number of women major-party nominees for the U.S. House matches the previous high (2). Both women nominees for U.S. House in Arkansas are challengers to incumbents. 

District Woman Nominee Party Seat Status Race/Ethnicity Current Cook Political Report Rating

3

Caitlin Draper 

D

Challenger

White

Solid Republican

4

Risie Howard

D

Challenger

Black

Solid Republican

Milestones to Watch in the 2024 General Election:

  • No woman has represented Arkansas in the U.S. House since 1997. No woman has represented Arkansas in the U.S. Congress since 2011.  
  • No Black woman has ever represented Arkansas in the U.S. Congress. 

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 0 of 4 (0%) seats in the Arkansas delegation to the U.S. House. Four (4D) women have served in the U.S. House from Arkansas, with the last woman representation (Blanche Lambert Lincoln) leaving the U.S. House in 1997. 

Women Candidates in 2024: Two (2D) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in Arkansas in 2024. This is not a record high. They were 2 of 9 (22.2%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2024.

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 2 (2R) of 7 (28.6%) statewide elective executive offices in Arkansas. Nine (5D, 4R) women have served in statewide elective executive office in Arkansas.

Women Candidates in 2024: No women filed as candidates for Arkansas State Treasurer, the only statewide elective executive office up for election in Arkansas in 2024. Three (3D) women have previously served as treasurer. 

California

U.S. Senate

Women Nominees in 2024: No women advanced to the general election as nominees for the U.S. Senate. Seven (4D, 3R) women candidates, including U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (D) and Katie Porter (D), were unsuccessful. California has been represented by at least one woman in the U.S. Senate since 1992.

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 1 (1D) of California’s U.S. Senate seats. Four (4D) women have served in the U.S. Senate from California. 

Women Candidates in 2024: Seven (4D, 3R) women filed as candidates for U.S. Senate in California in 2024. This marks the highest number of women running for the U.S. Senate in California between 1990 and 2024. They were 7 of 21 (33.3%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2024.

  • Incumbent U.S. Senator LaPhonza Butler (D), who was appointed to fill the vacancy of former Senator Dianne Feinstein (D) in October 2023, did not run for a full term. 

U.S. House

Women Nominees in 2024: Based on primary election results, women are 25 of 104 (24%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in California, including 17 of 55 (30.9%) Democrats and 8 of 49 (16.3%) Republicans. California does not hold party primaries; instead, the top two vote-getters of all primary candidates advance to the general election. The high for women U.S. House nominees is 35, first set in 2020. 

Thirty (21D, 9R) women House candidates were unsuccessful. Of the 25 (17D, 8R) women nominees for U.S. House in California: 13 (11D, 2R) are incumbents, 8 (2D, 6R) are challengers, and 4 (4D) are running for open seats.

District Woman Nominee Party Seat Status Race/Ethnicity Current Cook Political Report Rating
1 Rose Penelope Yee D Challenger Asian American/Pacific Islander Solid Republican

3

Jessica Morse

D

Challenger

White

Likely Republican
6 Christine Bish R Challenger White Solid Democrat

7

Doris Matsui

D

Incumbent

Asian American/Pacific Islander

Solid Democrat
10 Katherine Piccinini R Challenger Unavailable Solid Democrat

11

Nancy Pelosi

D

Incumbent

White

Solid Democrat
12 Lateefah Simon D Open Black Solid Democrat
12 Jennifer Tran D Open Asian American/Pacific Islander Solid Democrat

15

Anna Cheng Kramer

R

Challenger

Asian American/Pacific Islander

Solid Democrat
17 Anita Chen R Challenger Asian American/Pacific Islander Solid Democrat

18

Zoe Lofgren

D

Incumbent

White

Solid Democrat

26

Julia Brownley

D

Incumbent

White

Solid Democrat

28

Judy Chu

D

Incumbent

Asian American/Pacific Islander

Solid Democrat

28

April Verlato

R

Challenger

White

Solid Democrat
29 Luz Maria Rivas D Open  Latina Solid Democrat
30 Laura Friedman D Open White Solid Democrat

35

Norma Torres

D

Incumbent

Latina

Solid Democrat
36 Melissa Toomim R Challenger Latina/MENA/White Solid Democrat

37

Sydney Kamlager

D

Incumbent

Black

Solid Democrat

38

Linda Sánchez

D

Incumbent

Latina

Solid Democrat

40

Young Kim

R

Incumbent

Asian American/Pacific Islander

Likely Republican

43

Maxine Waters

D

Incumbent

Black

Solid Democrat

44

Nanette Diaz Barragan

D

Incumbent

Latina

Solid Democrat

45

Michelle Steel

R

Incumbent

Asian American/Pacific Islander

Lean Republican

51

Sara Jacobs

D

Incumbent

White

Solid Democrat

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 17 (15D, 2R) of 52 (32.7%) seats in the California delegation to the U.S. House. Forty-six (36D, 10R) women have served in the U.S. House from California.

Women Candidates in 2024: Fifty-five (38D, 17R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in California in 2024. This is not a record high. They were 55 of 213 (25.8%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2024.

  • Four (4D) women incumbents are not running for re-election, including two who are retiring (Anna Eshoo and Grace Napolitano) and two who are running in California’s U.S. Senate election (Barbara Lee and Katie Porter). Eshoo (D-CA16) has served in the U.S. House since 1993. Napolitano (D-CA31) has served in the U.S. House since 1999. Lee (D-CA12) has served in the U.S. House since 1998. Porter (D-CA47) has served in the U.S. House since 2019.

Statewide Elective Executive Office

There are no statewide executive elections in California in 2024.

North Carolina

U.S. Senate

There is no U.S. Senate contest in North Carolina in 2024.

U.S. House

Women Nominees in 2024: Based on primary election results, women are 6 of 26 (23.1%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in North Carolina, including 4 of 12 (33.3%) Democrats and 2 of 14 (14.3%) Republicans. The number of women major-party nominees for the U.S. House will fall short of the previous high (11), first set in 2022. 

Seven (7R) women House candidates were unsuccessful. Of the 6 (4D, 2R) women nominees for U.S. House in North Carolina: 4 (3D, 1R) are incumbents, 1 (1R) is a challenger, and 1 (1D) is running for an open seat. 

District Woman Nominee Party Seat Status Race/Ethnicity Current Cook Political Report Rating

1

Laurie Buckhout

R

Challenger

White

Toss Up Democrat

2

Deborah Ross

D

Incumbent

White

Solid Democrat

4

Valerie Foushee

D

Incumbent

Black

Solid Democrat

5

Virginia Foxx

R

Incumbent

White

Solid Republican

12

Alma Adams

D

Incumbent

Black

Solid Democrat

14

Pam Genant 

D

Open

White

Solid Republican

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 5 (4D, 1R) of 14 (35.7%) seats in the North Carolina delegation to the U.S. House. Nine (6D, 3R) women have served in the U.S. House from North Carolina.

Women Candidates in 2024: Thirteen (4D, 9R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in North Carolina in 2024. This is not a record high. They were 13 of 64 (20.3%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2024.

  • Incumbent U.S. Representative Kathy Manning (D-NC06) is not running for re-election. Manning has served in the U.S. House since 2021.

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Women Nominees in 2024: Based on primary election results, women are 6 of 20 (30%) major-party nominees already selected for statewide elective executive offices in North Carolina, including 5 of 10 (50%) Democrats and 1 of 10 (10%) Republicans.

Nine (3D, 6R) women statewide executive candidates were unsuccessful, including incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt (R). Of the 6 (5D, 1R) women nominees for statewide executive offices in North Carolina: 2 (2D) are incumbents, 2 (2D) are challengers, and 2 (1D, 1R) are running for an open seat, including successful primary challenger Michele Morrow (R).

District Woman Nominee Party Seat Status Race/Ethnicity Current Cook Political Report Rating

Auditor

Jessica Holmes

D

Incumbent

Black

N/A

Lieutenant Governor

Rachel Hunt

D

Open

White

N/A

Secretary of State

Elaine Marshall

D

Incumbent

White

N/A

Commissioner of Insurance

Natasha Marcus

D

Challenger

White

N/A

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Michele Morrow

R

Open Seat (defeated incumbent in primary)

White

N/A

Commissioner of Agriculture

Sarah Taber

D

Challenger

White

N/A

Milestones to Watch in the 2024 General Election:

  • No woman has served as commissioner of insurance in North Carolina.

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 3 (2D, 1R) of 10 (30%) statewide elective executive offices in North Carolina. Ten (8D, 2R) women have served in statewide elective executive office in North Carolina. 

Women Candidates in 2024: Fifteen (8D, 7R) women filed as candidates for the 10 statewide elective executive seats up for election in North Carolina in 2024. They were 15 of 60 (25%) total major-party candidates for statewide elective executive office in 2024. 

Texas

U.S. Senate

Women Nominees in 2024: No women advanced to the general election as nominees for the U.S. Senate. Two (2D) women candidates were unsuccessful.  

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: No women currently represent Texas in the U.S. Senate. One (1R) woman – Kay Bailey Hutchison – has served in the U.S. Senate from Texas.

Women Candidates in 2024: Two (2D) women filed as candidates for U.S. Senate in Texas in 2024. This is not a record high. Women were 2 of 12 (16.7%) total major-party candidates for the U.S. Senate in 2024.

U.S. House

Women Nominees in 2024: Based on primary election results, women are 22 of 60 (36.7%) major-party nominees already selected for U.S. House in Texas, including 16 of 32 (50%) Democrats and 6 of 28 (21.4%) Republicans. One (1R) woman – Caroline Kane – will advance to a runoff election to challenge the incumbent in Texas' 7th Congressional District on May 28. The number of women major-party nominees for the U.S. House will fall short of the previous high (25), first set in 2020. 

Fifteen (4D, 11R) women House candidates were unsuccessful. Of the 22 (16D, 6R) women nominees for U.S. House in Texas: 7 (5D, 2R) are incumbents and 14 (10D, 4R) are challengers, and one (1D) is running for an open seat. 

District Woman Nominee Party Seat Status Race/Ethnicity Current Cook Political Report Rating

5

Ruth Torres

D

Challenger

Latina/White

Solid Republican

7

Lizzie Pannill Fletcher

D

Incumbent

White

Solid Democrat

8

Laura Jones

D

Challenger

White

Solid Republican

10

Theresa Boisseau

D

Challenger

White

Solid Republican

14

Rhonda Hart

D

Challenger

White

Solid Republican

15

Michelle Vallejo

D

Challenger

Latina

Likely Republican

15

Monica De La Cruz

R

Incumbent

Latina

Likely Republican

16

Veronica Escobar

D

Incumbent

Latina

Solid Democrat

16

Irene Armendariz-Jackson

R

Challenger

Latina

Solid Democrat

18

Sheila Jackson Lee

D

Incumbent

Black

Solid Democrat

18

Lana Centonze

R

Challenger

Black

Solid Democrat

21

Kristin Hook

D

Challenger

Latina/White

Solid Republican

22

Marquette Greene-Scott

D

Challenger

Black

Solid Republican

24

Beth Van Duyne

R

Incumbent

White

Solid Republican

27

Tanya Lloyd

D

Challenger

White

Solid Republican

29

Sylvia Garcia

D

Incumbent

Latina

Solid Democrat

30

Jasmine Crockett

D

Incumbent

Black

Solid Democrat
32 Julie Johnson D Open White Solid Democrat

34

Mayra Flores

R

Challenger

Latina

Lean Democrat

36

Dayna Steele

D

Challenger

White

Solid Republican

37

Jenny Garcia Sharon

R

Challenger

Latina

Solid Democrat

38

Melissa McDonough

D

Challenger

White

Solid Republican

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 8 (5D, 3R) of 38 (21.1%) seats in the Texas delegation to the U.S. House. Thirteen (8D, 5R) women have served in the U.S. House from Texas.

Women Candidates in 2024: Thirty-eight (20D, 18R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in Texas in 2024. This is not a record high. Women were 38 of 159 (23.9%) total major-party candidates for the U.S. House in 2024.

  • Incumbent U.S. Representative Kay Granger (R-TX12) is not running for re-election. Granger has served in the U.S. House since 1997.

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Women Nominees in 2024: Based on primary election results, women are both major-party nominees for railroad commissioner, the sole statewide executive office up for election in Texas in 2024. Incumbent Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick (R) will be challenged by Democratic nominee Katherine Culbert. 

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District Woman Nominee Party Seat Status Race/Ethnicity Current Cook Political Report Rating
Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick R Incumbent White N/A

Railroad Commissioner

Katherine Culbert

D

Challenger

White

N/A

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 2 (2R) of 9 (22.2%) statewide elective executive offices in Texas. Ten (6D, 4R, 1Ind) women have served in statewide elective executive office in Texas. 

Women Candidates in 2024: Four (1D, 3R) women filed as candidates for the sole statewide elective executive office up for election in Texas in 2024. Women were 4 of 7 (57.1%) total major-party candidates for railroad commissioner in 2024.

 

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