Growing number of women launch bids for governor

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

09/01/25 6:00 AM ET


A growing number of Republican and Democratic women are gearing up to run for governor in the 2025 and 2026 elections as more women take the helm of state capitals across the country.

History will be made in Virginia this November as Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) and former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) vie to be the commonwealth’s first female governor. Meanwhile in New Jersey, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) is running to become that state’s second female governor.

A number of incumbent female governors, including New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders (R), are running for reelection while other candidates including Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms are running to become governor of their respective states for the first time.

“We will absolutely see an additional woman governor in the state of Virginia and a strong possibility of a woman governor in New Jersey, which would make us reach a real record,” said Debbie Walsh, the director of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5475530-growing-number-of-women-launch-bids-for-governor/

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1. Plus three so far in California

As of September 2025, three prominent women are running for Governor of California in the 2026 election:

Katie Porter: A former Congresswoman who represented California's 47th congressional district, Porter is a populist consumer advocate and currently considered a front-runner in the Democratic field.

Toni Atkins: Former President pro Tempore of the California State Senate, Atkins is a long-time figure in state politics who was also a former Speaker of the Assembly.

Betty Yee: Former State Controller and Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party, Yee officially entered the race in August 2024.

AI sorry

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Later in the article it says this -

According to CAWP, 40 women, including incumbents, have announced or filed their candidacies for governor ahead of the 2026 cycle.

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5. Oops, I searched it for California.

[Diamond_Dog]

2. I guess Ohio isn't worth a mention.... ?

Dr. Amy Acton will be running for Governor here.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. The article mentions 40 women (so far) who have announced.

According to CAWP, 40 women, including incumbents, have announced or filed their candidacies for governor ahead of the 2026 cycle.