Democratic women could make history in midterm governor and House races
Candidates and organizations on the left told ABC News both milestones are plausible, but depend on the most competitive races.
Democratic women are poised to make history in midterm governor and House races. Four years ago, eight Democratic women won governorships in a single election, a milestone that reshaped the political landscape. This November, Democrats aim to elect even more women to the governorships and push the number of Democratic women in the U.S. House past 100.
Currently, there are 19 Democratic women running for governor, a record that surpasses the 2022 total of 16. There are 95 Democratic women serving in the House, and 198 are on the general election ballot, with the goal of electing at least 100 women, the highest number in history.
Candidates and organizations on the left believe both milestones are achievable, but they hinge on winning the most competitive races. Kelly Dittmar of Rutgers’ Center for American Women and Politics attributes Democrats' success to their more robust support infrastructure, including trainings, recruitment programs, political action committees (PACs), and funding.
Sarah Chamberlain, a GOP strategist, argues that finding Republican women willing to run is the main challenge, as the party's support infrastructure is less developed.
Several nominees could break barriers. In Texas, Gina Hinojosa would become the first Latina governor, while New Mexico's Deb Haaland would be the first Native American woman to serve as governor. Georgia's Keisha Lance Bottoms would be the first woman and Black governor of any state. Massachusetts' Maura Healey, chair of the Democratic Governors Association's Women Governors Fund, has invested over $120 million in electing and re-electing Democratic women governors since 2018.
She has pledged additional support to candidates like Texas's Gina Hinojosa and New Mexico's Deb Haaland.
Republican women are currently serving as 30 voting members in the House, down from 34 in the 118th Congress, with 73 women running for re-election. While Democrats seem poised for a record-breaking year, Republicans face uphill political headwinds.
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