After a week of vote tabulations and analysis, we have a clearer picture of final results for women after last Tuesday, especially down ballot.
But first, some updates on federal races:
- Democrats are on track to win at least 255 House seats, with 44 of those being flips. Women will sit in 119 of those Democratic seats, more than the 117 we projected a week ago. They make up 24 of the 44 seats flipped, which means that women have officially overperformed compared to the gender balance of power in Congress.
- Democrats are on track to win 56 Senate seats, with Mississippi now officially called and Alaska all but certain to be called for Mary Peltola. Women will hold 26 of those, which is not a new record overall though it is for Democrats—18 versus our previous high of 17, set from 2018-21.
These Senate wins include some important milestones for women.
- Sens.-elect Peggy Flanagan (MN) and Peltola (AK) will be the first and second Native American women ever elected to the Senate.
- For the first time ever, three Black women—Sen.-elect Juliana Stratton (IL) and Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE) and Angela Alsobrooks (MD) will serve in the Senate at the same time.
- Sen.-elect Dr. Annie Andrews (SC) is the first woman elected to the Senate from South Carolina.
Women made incredible gains in the states.
- A record number of women—18—will serve as governors, including 15 Democratic governors, bringing women to parity within the ranks of Democratic governors (there are 30 total).
- For the first time ever, the percentage of women governors (36 percent) will exceed the percentage of women in Congress (31 percent). Currently women make up 28 percent of both groups.
- Three of those women will have Democratic trifectas—Katie Hobbs (AZ), Benson (MI) and Klobuchar (MN). Three others will preside over a divided government—Govs.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms (GA), Dr. Amy Acton (OH) and Gina Hinojosa (TX).
- Women will be protecting elections in key states, winning 20 attorney general and secretary of state races across 16 states. Four states elected women to both offices: Alabama, Colorado, Georgia and Vermont.
- Women have currently won 2,210 of the 6,139 state legislative seats up for election this cycle, bringing the percentage of women in state legislatures up to 34.4 percent from 33.6 percent. This is only an estimate; votes are still being counted in many state legislative races.
- Women will reach parity in three new state legislatures: Arizona, Delaware and (likely) California. Women are already at parity in Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico.
And made history.
- Gov.-elect Bottoms is the first Black woman elected governor in US history. In fact, every statewide elected office in Georgia except two—lieutenant governor and US Senate—will be held by Black women. All statewide offices will be held by Democrats.
- Gov.-elect Deb Haaland (NM) is the first Native American woman elected governor in US history. New Mexico is also the first state to elect an all women of color gubernatorial ticket; the Lt. Gov.-elect is Stephanie Garcia Richard.
- Four states elected their first female governor: Georgia, Minnesota, Ohio and Tennessee (Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn).
Results are still being tallied, especially in western states that rely on mail ballots. If there are any more seismic developments for women, we’ll be back in your inbox.
At WomenCount, we are over the moon about the midterm results, and particularly what it means for women. We are proud to have supported these candidates early, often, and over the finish line.