Historic Facts on Women Candidates

Data below include the number of women candidates who filed and appeared on ballots for U.S. Congress by their seat status and party. This includes major-party candidates running in regularly-scheduled elections. Independent candidates are included only if they win their contests. These figures do not include candidates for non-voting delegate positions in the U.S. House. 

Data below include the number of women nominees who appeared on general election ballots for U.S. Congress by their seat status and party. This includes major-party nominees running in regularly-scheduled elections. Independent nominees are included only if they win their contests. These figures do not include nominees for non-voting delegate positions in the U.S. House. 

¹Jean Carnahan (D-MO), while not a candidate on the ballot for the Senate or an election winner, was appointed to the seat won posthumously by her husband, Governor Mel Carnahan.

¹Joanne Emerson is an Independent candidate that is included in these numbers because she won the general election and went on to serve as a Republican.

²Ann Tamlyn (D-MD) won her primary race but dropped out before the general election due to health issues. She was replaced on the ballot. Therefore, she is not counted as a nominee. 

³Joy Padgett (R-OH) withdrew before the primary. Because her name still appeared on the ballot, she's included in the filed number but not in the winner/loser numbers. Because of a vacancy in the party nomination. Padgett was able to run in the general and is counted as a nominee. Stephanie Studebaker (D-OH) won her primary but withdrew before the general election. Therefore, she is not counted as a nominee.

⁴Crystal C. Biggs (D-MS) won her primary but withdrew before the general election.

⁵Melissa Gilbert (D- MI) withdrew from the Democratic primary contesting Michigan's 8th congressional district before the primary election, but appeared unopposed on the primary election ballot. She is not counted among the winners here and was replaced in the general election by Susanna Shkreli (D). 

⁶Does not include Brenda Jones in (D-MI) who won a special election that coincided with the regular primary for a partial term (November-January).

⁷Includes Aja Brown (D-CA), who unofficially withdrew before the primary but won the nomination and will appear on the general election ballot. Also, includes April Freeman (D-FL) who won their nomination but passed away before the general election and was replaced on the ballot. We do include Anya Tynio (R-VT) who lost the primary but then was appointed after the original nominee withdrew. 

⁸Includes Nikema Williams (D-GA), who replaced John Lewis on the General Election ballot.

⁹Includes LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Nellie Pou (D-NJ), and Lupe Castillo (R-TX), all of whom weren't on the primary ballot, but became the nominees in the general election. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) won the nomination but passed away before the general election and was replaced on the ballot. Therefore, she is not counted as a nominee. Jenn Pace (R-IN) won the nomination but passed away before the general election. and was replaced on the ballot. Therefore, she is not counted as a nominee.

Data below include the number of women winners of general election contests for U.S. Congress by their seat status and party. This includes women winners of all parties in regularly-scheduled elections. These figures do not include winners for non-voting delegate positions in the U.S. House. 

¹ Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) lost her primary race but won as a write-in candidate in the general election. As such, she is not included in the nominee number but is counted among the general election winner numbers.

² Martha McSally (R-AZ) lost on Election Day 2018 but was appointed to the U.S. Senate on 1/5/19 and thus is not included in the winner numbers. 

¹Includes Marianette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) who was seated provisionally in the U.S. House while election results were under House review. 

Contests listed below include those where women are both major-party nominees for a congressional office. 

CAWP Congressional Women Candidates Database

The CAWP Congressional Women Candidates Database includes women who filed as major-party candidates for congressional office in regularly-scheduled elections since 1990. Third-party incumbent women candidates and non-partisan candidates in non-partisan races are also included in the set. Variables include candidate: name, office, district, state, party, election year, primary/general election seat status, primary/general election result, and race/ethnicity (from 2004).

Download Data

Download Database Codebook

Data below include the number of women candidates who filed and appeared on ballots for statewide elective executive offices, including governor, by their seat status and party. This includes major-party candidates running in regularly-scheduled elections. Independent candidates are included only if they win their contests.

Data below include the number of women nominees who appeared on general election ballots for statewide elective executive offices, including governor, by their seat status and party. This includes major-party nominees running in regularly-scheduled elections. Independent nominees are included only if they win their contests.

Data below include the number of women winners of general election contests for statewide elective executive offices, including governor, by their seat status and party. This includes women winners of all parties in regularly-scheduled elections.

Contests listed below include those where women are both major-party nominees for governor.

CAWP Statewide Women Candidates Database

The CAWP Statewide Women Candidates Database includes women who filed as major-party candidates for statewide elective executive office in regularly-scheduled elections since 2000. Third-party incumbent women candidates and non-partisan candidates in non-partisan races are also included in the set. Variables include candidate: name, office, district, state, party, election year, primary/general election seat status, primary/general election result, and race/ethnicity (from 2004).

Download Data

Download Database Codebook

Data below presents the number of women state legislative candidates by party. This includes major-party candidates and not those running in special elections. Independent and third-party candidates are included in the totals only if they win their races.

Data below presents the number of women state legislative nominees by their seat status and party. This includes major-party nominees for the general elections and not those running in special elections. Independent and third-party candidates are included only if they win their races.

Data below presents the number of women winners for state legislature by their seat status and party. This includes winners for general elections and not those running in special elections. Independent and third-party candidates are included only if they win their races.

Data below presents the number of women nominees and winners for state legislature by state. This includes nominees and winners for general elections, and not those running in special elections. Independent and third party candidates are included only if they win their races.

CAWP Women State Legislative Nominees Database

The CAWP State Legislative Women Nominees Database includes women who were major-party nominees for state legislatures in regularly-scheduled elections since 1992. Third-party incumbent women candidates are also included in the set. Variables include candidate: name, office, district, state, party, election year, general election seat status, and general election result.

Download Data

Download Database Codebook