Women Candidates Running for Governor in 2025-2026 Election Cycle

Growing Number of Women in Gubernatorial Races

• 📈 A notable increase in both Republican and Democratic women are running for governor in the 2025 and 2026 election cycles.
• 🏛️ This trend signifies more women pursuing leadership roles in state capitals across the United States.

Historic Candidacies and Milestones

• 🚺 Virginia is set to make history with Lieutenant Governor Winome Earl Sears and former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger competing to be the Commonwealth's first female governor.
• 🚺 In New Jersey, Congresswoman Mikey Cheryl is campaigning to become the state's second female governor.
• 📊 As of the 2026 cycle, 40 women, including incumbents, have announced or filed candidacies for governor, according to the Center for American Women in Politics at Rutgers University.

Disparities and Perceptions in Executive Leadership

• ⚠️ Despite progress, a significant disparity exists between the number of women who have served as governor and men.
• 📉 Currently, only 12 women are serving as governor, with a total of 51 women having served as governor of a US state throughout history.
• 🎯 Experts suggest voters perceive women as more effective in collaborative settings, like legislatures, rather than as chief executive decision-makers.
• 🗣️ Stereotypes persist regarding women's ability to lead at the highest executive levels, impacting voter perception.

Overcoming Obstacles for Women in Politics

• ⚖️ A 2023 Pew Research survey found that 54% of Americans believe women face greater obstacles, needing to prove themselves more than men when seeking political office.
• 🚀 Many women candidates in the 2025-2026 races are viewed as seeking the next career step, building on proven records as elected officials.