Women Set New Record With at Least 17 Governorships Following Historic Midterm Victories

Democratic victories in Texas, Georgia, Ohio and other states helped raise women’s representation in governors’ offices to an unprecedented level, with several candidates becoming the first women to lead their states.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Women are set to govern at least 17 states in 2027, establishing a new national record following Tuesday’s midterm elections, as Democratic gains and several historic Republican victories expanded female representation in state executive leadership.

The results surpassed the previous record of 14 women serving simultaneously as governors, reached in 2025. According to NBC News’ Wednesday election report, at least 10 Democratic women and three Republican women were initially projected to win their races, with several gubernatorial contests still unresolved early Nov. 4.

An updated assessment by the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University projected that at least 14 Democratic women and three Republican women would hold governorships in 2027, accounting for 34% of the nation’s 50 governors. The previous record for Democratic women serving simultaneously was 10.

The election was particularly significant in Georgia, where former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson to become the first Black woman elected governor in United States history. Her victory also made her the first woman elected to lead Georgia and ended more than two decades of Republican control of the governor’s office.

During her election-night celebration, Bottoms referenced the 1971 song “If I Were Your Woman” while addressing supporters.

“Georgia, I have said over the past few days: If I were your woman,” she said. “Well, now I am your woman, and here is what I will do: I will never, ever, ever stop loving you. Thank you, Georgia, for electing me as your governor.”

Texas voters delivered another historic result by electing Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, who defeated three-term Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to become the state’s first Latina governor. The victory ended a Republican hold on the governorship dating to the 1990s.

Hinojosa, whose campaign emphasized affordability, public education and government accountability, celebrated her victory by reflecting on her upbringing in South Texas.

“I am a daughter of the Rio Grande Valley, where the people embody the work ethic and values of our great state, where no one would have imagined that one day, a little girl from the RGV would stand before you here as the next governor of the greatest state, Texas. But God had a plan, and the people of Texas had a plan, too,” she told supporters.

Democrats also secured notable victories in Ohio and Minnesota. Former Ohio health director Amy Acton defeated Republican businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, becoming the first woman elected governor of Ohio and the state’s first Democratic governor in two decades.

Although Republican Nancy Hollister briefly served as Ohio governor through succession in 1998 and 1999, Acton is the first woman to win the office through a statewide election.

In Minnesota, Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar defeated Republican Lisa Demuth to become the state’s first female governor. Klobuchar’s election marked another milestone in a state that had never previously elected a woman to its highest executive office.

Additional Democratic victories included Helena Foulkes in Rhode Island, where she succeeded a male governor, and former public health official Amy Acton in Ohio. Both contributed to the increase in governorships held by women.

In Michigan, Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson won the governor’s race, succeeding fellow Democrat Gretchen Whitmer and maintaining female leadership of the state’s executive branch.

Maine voters elected Democrat Hannah Pingree to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, preserving a woman’s leadership of the state. Meanwhile, Democratic incumbents Maura Healey in Massachusetts, Kathy Hochul in New York and Katie Hobbs in Arizona secured reelection.

Republican women also achieved significant electoral milestones. Tennessee voters elected U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn as their state’s first female governor, defeating Democrat Jerri Green and independent candidates.

Blackburn’s victory established a new milestone for Tennessee while preserving Republican control of the governor’s office.

In Arkansas, Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders won reelection, while New Hampshire Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte also secured another term. Their victories brought the number of Republican women projected to serve as governors in 2027 to at least three.

According to Rutgers University’s election results tracker, 15 women had won gubernatorial elections as of Wednesday morning, including 12 Democrats and three Republicans. Two additional Democratic women already serving as governors were not on the ballot, bringing the projected total to at least 17.

The center also reported that no incumbent female governor had been defeated in the general election. Six women won reelection, eight captured open seats and one defeated an incumbent.

The new record could increase further as outstanding races are decided. Gubernatorial contests in Alaska and Kansas remained unresolved in the reporting reviewed Wednesday, with female candidates competing in both states.

The election also expanded the number of states in which women hold both the governorship and lieutenant governorship. Beginning in 2027, women are expected to serve simultaneously in those positions in Arkansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia.

Beyond governors’ offices, women made gains in other statewide executive positions and congressional elections. Rutgers projected that at least 101 women would hold statewide elected executive offices in 2027, exceeding the previous record of 100 established in 2024.

The center also reported that at least 116 Democratic women would serve in Congress, surpassing the party’s previous record of 111. At least 100 Democratic women were expected to serve in the House, exceeding the previous Democratic record of 95.

Those figures remained subject to change as election officials completed ballot counting in outstanding contests.

According to NBC News’ broader gubernatorial election analysis, Democrats captured enough governors’ offices to establish a majority of state governorships for the first time since 2010, while retaining control in several closely contested states.

The gains included states that President Donald Trump carried in 2024, demonstrating that Democratic candidates were able to win governorships in areas where Republicans had maintained strong electoral advantages.

The increase in female governors represents a substantial change in the composition of state leadership. Women held just 28% of governorships before the election, compared with the projected minimum of 34% when the newly elected governors take office.

With at least 17 women preparing to lead states in 2027, the election establishes new records for female gubernatorial representation and Democratic women’s participation in state executive leadership, while additional undecided contests could raise those totals further.