Tomorrow is a big election for our democracy and for women.
Women across the country are poised to make history. Tennessee, Ohio, and Minnesota could elect their first women governors. New Mexico could elect the first Native American woman governor in U.S. history, and Georgia the first Black woman governor. Alaska and Minnesota could send the first Native women to the U.S. Senate.
We'll celebrate every one of these milestones. But we'll also be asking why, more than a century after suffrage, we're still counting firsts. Here's what we're tracking:
- Women's share of power. A record 590 women ran for the U.S. House this year, yet our 2026 Gender Parity Index found women's share of seats didn't change at all from last year.
- The party gap. Democratic women are approaching parity in their party. Republican women are just 17.6 percent of their party's House nominees, and that gap may widen.
- Incumbency and money. This is the most expensive midterm in U.S. history, and most of that money flows to incumbents, who are overwhelmingly men.
- Ranked choice voting on the ballot. Alaska and Maine will use ranked choice voting in key races; Alaskans will vote on whether to keep their system, and voters in Longmont, Honolulu, and Irvine will decide whether to adopt it.
- Fair pay for legislators. New Mexico voters will decide whether to pay state lawmakers a salary for the first time, removing a barrier that keeps many women from serving.
Read our full Election Day preview, published by Ms. magazine and featured on our Substack.
1. Track the Election Night Results Alongside Us
Follow our Election Scorecard as races are called on tomorrow night and beyond.
2. Read our Latest Substack, The Incumbency Trap: Why Record Spending Won't Close the Gap for Republican Women
In my latest Substack article, I write about how women are approaching parity in one party and stuck at the margins in the other. Record money is flowing to incumbents, most of them men, and our election structure keeps it that way. To learn more, read the complete article here.
3. Check Out our Memo of Races We're Watching
Check out our pre-election memo with the key races, numbers, and ballot measures for women.
4. Listen: How Women Are Shaping the U.S. Midterms
RepresentWomen’s Founder and Executive Director, Cynthia Richie Terrell, joins Eveline Dowling of Expand Democracy to explain why a record number of women are running but forecasters don't expect big gains, and why the answer is the rules, not the women. Listen to the episode now!
5. Learn How Women in Public Office are Staying Safe this Election Cycle
The Ghosh Innovation Lab has created a safety preparedness and resilience tool to help ensure no one has to choose between public office and personal safety. The survey has 20 questions and provides a readiness score and an action plan.
A Final Reminder: Make your plan to vote! 🗳️
We’re officially less than 12 hours away from the first polls opening. If you haven’t voted yet, make your plan for tomorrow: know where your polling place is, when it’s open, and what you’ll need to bring.
Women are a collective force that strengthens our democracy. When the results come in, we’ll share what they mean for women’s representation and for the work ahead. Thank you for being part of it.
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