Election Day 2026 could bring a remarkable number of political firsts for women across the country.

From the U.S. Senate to governors’ mansions and the House of Representatives, women from different backgrounds, states and political perspectives are seeking offices where their elections could mark new milestones.

Here are some of the women to know — and what they’re running for:

• Angie Nixon — U.S. Senate, Florida (D)
  Florida state representative running for the U.S. Senate. “If elected, she would become Florida’s first Black U.S. senator.”

• Peggy Flanagan — U.S. Senate, Minnesota (DFL/D)
  Minnesota's lieutenant governor is the Democratic-Farmer-Labor nominee for U.S. Senate. Flanagan is a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe. DFL

• Juliana Stratton — U.S. Senate, Illinois (D)
  Illinois' lieutenant governor is running for U.S. Senate. If elected, at least three Black women would serve in the Senate simultaneously in 2027 — another national first. Center for American Women and Politics

• Mary Peltola — U.S. Senate, Alaska (D)
  The former U.S. representative and first Alaska Native elected to Congress is challenging Sen. Dan Sullivan for the U.S. Senate. Alaska election officials list both as certified Senate candidates. Alaska Elections

• Melat Kiros — U.S. House, Colorado's 1st District (D)
  Running for the U.S. House. Her election would add another Gen Z woman to the next generation of congressional leadership.

• Denise Powell — U.S. House, Nebraska's 2nd District (D)
  Running for the U.S. House in Nebraska's Omaha-area 2nd Congressional District.

• Jasmine Clark — U.S. House, Georgia's 13th District (D)
  The state representative and microbiologist is running for the U.S. House.

• Aisha Wahab — U.S. House, California's 14th District (D)
  Already elected to Congress in an August special election, Wahab is running in November for a full term.

THE GOVERNOR'S RACES TO WATCH

• Keisha Lance Bottoms — Governor of Georgia (D)
  The former Atlanta mayor is the Democratic nominee. If elected, she would become Georgia's first woman governor and the first Black woman to serve as governor anywhere in the United States. National Governors Association

• Deb Haaland — Governor of New Mexico (D)
  The former U.S. Interior secretary is the Democratic nominee. If elected, she would become the first Native American woman governor in U.S. history. National Governors Association

• Dr. Amy Acton — Governor of Ohio (D)
  Ohio's former state health director is the Democratic nominee for governor.

• Gina Hinojosa — Governor of Texas (D)
  The Texas state representative is the Democratic nominee for governor.

• Marsha Blackburn (R) + Jerri Green (D) — Governor of Tennessee
  Both major-party nominees are women. That means Tennessee will elect its first woman governor in November, regardless of which candidate voters choose. National Governors Association

ALREADY MAKING HISTORY

• Abigail Spanberger — Governor of Virginia (D)
  Elected in 2025, Spanberger became Virginia's first woman governor.

• Darline Graham — U.S. Senate, South Carolina (R)
  Graham became South Carolina's first woman U.S. senator in 2026 after being appointed to fill a vacancy.

THE SCOOP

Different parties. Different backgrounds. Different policy positions.

What connects these women isn't a single political agenda — it's that their candidacies illustrate how many offices are still waiting for a woman to cross a historic threshold.

And that brings us to the bigger story.

Why are we still talking about so many political “firsts” for women in 2026?

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