Seventeen States Still Lack Woman Governor
Data shows persistent gaps in state executive and federal senate representation for women.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Women’s Issues
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While women have made significant strides in American politics, seventeen states have never elected a woman as governor. Furthermore, fifteen states have yet to be represented by a woman in the U.S. Senate.
Why it matters
Understanding these historical imbalances highlights the ongoing evolution of gender representation in high-level elective offices. The data provides a baseline for tracking how upcoming electoral cycles may close these long-standing representation gaps.
Women currently serve as governors in 14 states and hold 27 of the 100 U.S. Senate seats. Since 1925, a total of 53 women have served as governors, while 65 women have served in the U.S. Senate across 35 states.
The players
Amy Acton
She is a Democratic nominee who could become the first elected woman governor of Ohio.
Alani Bankhead
She is a Democratic nominee who could become the first woman senator for Montana.
N'Kiyla Thomas
She is a Democratic nominee who could become the first woman senator for Oklahoma.
The details
Recent analysis by Pew, utilizing data from Rutgers University's Center for American Women and Politics, confirms that four states have never had a woman governor or a woman senator. Every state in the union has now been represented by at least one woman in Congress, with Vermont achieving this milestone in 2022.
Timeline
The first woman served in the U.S. Senate in 1922.
The first two women governors took office in 1925.
Fifty-one women senators took office after 1980.
Vermont became the final state to send a woman to Congress in 2022.
Midterm elections are scheduled to occur in 2026.
Culture Shift
The data reflects a gradual transition away from historical male dominance in high-level state and federal offices. This evolution follows the long-standing trend of women in gubernatorial and senate roles since 1922, as states move closer to gender parity in executive and legislative power.
Voters in states that have not yet elected a woman governor or senator may see more focus on this gap in upcoming campaign messaging. These trends can influence how constituents evaluate candidates and their potential to break historic barriers in their specific regions.
The takeaway
The persistent absence of women in top leadership roles in many states demonstrates that gender equity in politics remains a work in progress. Voters often look to upcoming election cycles to see if these historical gaps will finally be addressed at the ballot box.
What happens next
Midterm election races in 2026 present opportunities for several states to elect their first woman governor or senator.
Further reading
For more on the changing demographics of political leadership, visit Women’s Issues.
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Do you believe states should prioritize electing women to governor and U.S. Senate positions?
