Only 32 U.S. states have had a woman governor. Virginia will mark the 33rd when either Democrat Abigail Spanberger or Republican Winsome Earle-Sears wins the gubernatorial election in November. To date, 51 (31D, 20R) women have served as state governors. In addition, women have served as governors of Guam and Puerto Rico. The first woman governor in 17...

Two women veterans are on gubernatorial ballots in 2025. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) served in the U.S. Navy, and Winsome Earle-Sears (R-VA) served in the U.S. Marines. They are two of four women veterans who have been major-party nominees for governor since 2010. In 2022, Theresa Livingston (D), an Air Force veteran, was unsuccessful in her bid for governor of...

At least four women lieutenant governors are running for governor in 2025 or 2026. In 2025, Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears is the Republican nominee for governor. Already, three current lieutenant governors - Nancy Dahlstrom (R-AK), Pamela Evette (R-SC), and Sara Rodriguez (D-WI) - have announced their bids for governor in the 2026 cycle...

Two (2D) congresswomen are major-party nominees for governor in 2025 in New Jersey and Virginia. U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill (D) is the Democratic nominee for governor of New Jersey. She was first elected to the U.S. House in 2018 and is currently serving her fourth term representing New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District. Former U.S. Representative...

The historic elections of former U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger as the first woman governor of Virginia and Virginia State Senator Ghazala Hashmi as the first Muslim woman elected to a statewide position (lieutenant governor) in the country tell only part of the story about the remarkable electoral gains posted by Democratic women in last week’s...