Record Number of Women Running for Governor in 2018

With filing deadlines passed in 19 of 36 states where gubernatorial elections will be held in 2018, a record number of women have filed as major party candidates for governor in 2018. As of March 30, 40 women – 24 Democrats and 16 Republicans – have filed for candidacy, surpassing the previous high of 34 set in 1994.

“Much of the coverage of election 2018 has focused on the Congressional midterm contests. However, with 36 states holding gubernatorial elections, there are tremendous opportunities for women to advance as chief executives,” according to CAWP’s director, Debbie Walsh. “Electing women governors not only places them in powerful executive positions, but it also builds the pipeline of future presidential candidates.”

In addition to 3 (1D, 2R) incumbent women governors who have filed for re-election, 22 (14D, 8R) of the 40 women filed are running for open seats in 8 states. 9 (8D, 1R) women are seeking major party nominations to challenge incumbent governors, and 6 (1D, 5R) women have filed as primary challengers to incumbents of their own party.

There is at least one woman running for governor in each of the 19 states where filing deadlines have passed, and another 38 (25D, 13R) women still in the running as potential major party candidates across 16 of the 17 states where gubernatorial elections will be held in 2018.

The record number of women who have run as major party nominees for governor is 10, set first in 1994 and again in 2002, 2006, and 2010. The highest number of women governors to serve simultaneously was 9 in 2004 and 2007.

6 (2D, 4R) women currently serve as governor.

A total of 39 (22D, 17R) women have served as governors in 28 states. For a full list see CAWP’s History of Women Governors. Of the 36 states with gubernatorial elections in 2018, 17 have never elected a woman governor.

For a full summary and listing of women candidates in 2018, see CAWP’s Election Watch.