Women Win Record House Seats in 2026 Midterms
At least 116 women had won U.S. House seats as of Wednesday morning, with dozens of races still uncalled.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Women’s Issues
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Women won record numbers of House seats and governorships in the 2026 midterm elections, according to a tally of wins as of Wednesday morning. At least 100 Democratic women and 16 Republican women had won House seats, and Keisha Lance Bottoms won Georgia's governor's race as the first Black woman governor in U.S. history.
Why it matters
The shift could reshape congressional leadership and state executive offices, with Democratic women positioned to gain committee chair roles as control of Congress changes. Women veterans also ran in higher numbers, with 38 on the general election ballot compared with 21 in 2024.
The tally reflects a Rutgers count of women House winners as of Wednesday morning, with the final total pending dozens of uncalled races. Women veteran candidates increased from 21 in 2024 to 38 in the 2026 general election, according to With Honor Action.
The players
Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University
A research center at Rutgers University that tracks women's candidacies and electoral outcomes across the United States.
Keisha Lance Bottoms
A Georgia politician who won the state's governor's race and will become the first Black woman governor in U.S. history.
Deb Haaland
A former U.S. Interior Secretary who won New Mexico's gubernatorial election and became the state's first Indigenous woman governor.
Julia Letlow
A Republican who was elected as Louisiana's first Republican woman to the U.S. Senate.
Katherine Clark
A Massachusetts Democrat and House Democratic leader who could become the first woman to serve as House majority leader.
The details
Women won several high-profile races, including Deb Haaland's New Mexico governor win as the first Indigenous woman elected governor of a U.S. state and Julia Letlow's election as Louisiana's first Republican woman U.S. senator. Veteran candidates in competitive House races, including Marine veteran JoAnna Mendoza in Arizona and Air Force veteran Kristina Knickerbocker in Ohio, were leading as of the latest reporting.
Timeline
2016: Baseline year for the 60% increase in Democratic Women's Caucus House membership.
2024: Baseline year when 21 women veterans ran for Congress.
November 3, 2026: Midterm general election held.
November 4, 2026: Women's House and governor wins tallied as of Wednesday morning.
2027: Record number of Democratic women governors is set to take office.
Historical Trajectory
The record totals extend a multi-decade climb in women's representation that the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University has tracked in its House and governor counts. Democratic Women's Caucus House membership has grown more than 60% since 2016, marking a sustained rather than one-time gain.
Voters following the House count can watch uncalled races for updated totals as results are finalized. Readers interested in state leadership changes can track the governors who take office in 2027.
The takeaway
The record number of women winning House seats and governorships signals a broader change in who holds political power at the state and federal level. Tracking uncalled races and incoming committee assignments will show how that representation takes shape in 2027.
What happens next
Dozens of House races remain uncalled, and final totals of women House winners will be determined as those races are decided. Dates for the incoming governors' terms begin in 2027.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in Women's Issues for context on women's representation in politics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Axios.
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