Record Number of Women of Color Nominated for U.S. House Seats

Another new record has been set in an already record-bursting primary season in 2018. According to data from the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), a division of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, more women of color have won nominations for U.S. House than in any other year.

This year, 80 women of color have secured nominations in U.S. House races. The previous record, set in 2016, was 55. In addition, both the Democratic and Republican parties have bested their respective records. In 2018, the Democrats nominated 65 women of color, topping their previous record of 42, set in 2016. The previous high-water mark for Republicans, also set in 2016, was 13, and in 2018 they’ve pushed that number to 15.

In terms of proportions, women of color this year make up 34.2% of all women nominees, 35.7% of Democratic women nominees, and 28.8% of Republican women nominees. A complete breakdown of women candidates by racial and ethnic identity, as well as other data from 2018, can be viewed in chart form at CAWP’s post-primary summary page, By the Numbers: Women Congressional Candidates in 2018.

Stay up to date with women in the 2018 midterm via CAWP’s Election Watch site, and for ongoing analysis and updated information, follow CAWP on Twitter and Facebook, as well Gender Watch 2018 initiative, our project with the Barbara Lee Family Foundation.