Democratic Women Set House Record With at Least 100 Seats in Midterms

At least 100 Democratic women will serve in the U.S. House next year, a record, according to an analysis from the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. The previous high of 95 was set in 2025.

The center counted at least 116 Democratic women headed to Congress overall, topping the record of 111, and said Democratic women were responsible for at least 10 of the party’s House flips so far. Elect Democratic Women, a political action committee led by House members, put its own count at 117 Democratic women in House seats as of Wednesday evening.

Republican women lose ground

The gains are concentrated on one side. CAWP said the number of Republican women in the House, the Senate and statewide executive office will drop after Tuesday’s vote. The Washington Post reported the widening gap between the two parties’ women in office.

At least 116 women of both parties have won House seats, including 16 Republicans, according to the center. That is below the all-time House record of 127, but 50 more women remain in 39 uncalled House races. Axios noted the number of Democratic women in the House has risen more than 60% since 2016.

Governors and the Senate

At least 17 women, 14 Democrats and three Republicans, will serve as governor in 2027, beating the record of 14, CAWP said. The results include the first Black woman and first Native woman elected governor, and the first Native woman elected to the U.S. Senate.

In the Senate, women’s numbers will decline. CAWP said at least 23 women will serve next year, down from 27 now, after two Republican women incumbents lost.

Developing: The totals will change as dozens of House races and two Senate contests are still being counted.

Sources: Center for American Women and Politics (Rutgers), The Washington Post, Axios, Elect Democratic Women.