Matching and Sustaining the Record Number of Women Governors; New Record Number of Women in Virginia General Assembly

Full results for women in the 2025 elections are available on this post on our Election Analysis page; there are a number of undecided races featuring women candidates. The full results post will update when these contests are decided.

"These results should put to rest the tired question of electability, particularly for high level executive positions. For too long, women candidates have had to prove both that they can win and that they should win. A dual campaign that men do not have to wage," said CAWP Director Debbie Walsh. "In New Jersey and Virginia, voters have sent a clear message: we're ready for women to lead."
 

Milestones

In 2026, 14 (10D, 4R) women will serve as governors, matching the record high set very briefly in January 2025. This will be the first sustained period of gubernatorial representation at this record level.

Current U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) will be the first Democratic woman governor of New Jersey. She will also be the first woman military veteran to serve as an American governor.

Former U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) will be the first woman governor of Virginia. 

State Senator Ghazala Hashmi will be the first Asian American/Pacific Islander woman to serve as Virginia lieutenant governor and in statewide elective executive office in Virginia. She will also be the first Democratic woman to serve as Virginia lieutenant governor.

Mary Sheffield will be the first woman and first Black woman to be mayor of Detroit, Michigan.

Kaohly Her will be the first woman and first Asian American/Pacific Islander woman to be mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota

Alicia M. Johnson has won a special election to serve on Georgia’s Public Service Commission (District 2). She will be the first Black woman to serve in statewide elective executive office in Georgia. 

A record number of women will serve in both the Virginia House of Delegates and the overall Virginia General Assembly (details follow).

State Legislatures By the Numbers

New Jersey

There are currently 10 (6D, 4R) women candidates in races that are too close to call for the New Jersey Legislature, meaning that women's representation could increase, decrease, or stay level depending on those results. Nine (7D, 2R) women senators will be holdovers into 2026, and at least 22 (20D, 2R) women have won elections for state Assembly seats. Women currently hold 31 (25D, 6R) Assembly seats and 40 (32D, 8R) seats in the New Jersey Legislature. Based on these results, women will fall short of the current record for number of women in the New Jersey Legislature, 43.

Virginia

Women’s representation in the Virginia General Assembly (House and Senate combined) will increase following the 2025 election and reach a new record high in 2026 in the full legislature and the House of Delegates. Women currently hold 34 (27D, 7R) House seats and 49 (38D, 11R) seats in the full legislature. In addition to the 14 (10D, 4R) women senators who will be holdovers into 2026, at least 41 (36D, 5R) women have won elections for state House of Delegates seats. Based on these results, women will surpass the current record for number of women in the Virginia General Assembly, 49, and women in the Virginia House of Delegates, 38. There are currently 4 (4D) women candidates in races that are too close to call.

For more information, see the full analysis of how women fared in yesterday's contests on our Election Analysis page. Complete context about women in the 2025 elections can be found on CAWP's Election Watch.