LAST UPDATED: April 17, 2024 (7:40am ET)
Five primaries were held on Tuesday in Alabama, Arkansas, California, North Carolina, and Texas. Full context about women in the 2024 elections, including candidate lists, summaries, and historical comparisons, is available via the Center for American Women and Politics’ (CAWP) Election Watch.
Among the most notable results for women:
- Alabama
- No change is likely in Alabama’s congressional delegation. Of the three women who won nomination, 1 (1D) is an incumbent in a race that favors her party and 2 (1D, 1R) are running in contests that favor their opponents. Just one woman represents Alabama in Congress, Democrat Terri Sewell.
- Arkansas
- Arkansas, which is currently represented by zero women in Congress, will likely see no change for women’s representation in its congressional delegation. Both women nominees are challengers to incumbents who are strongly favored to win re-election.
- California
- For the first time in 32 years, California will not be represented by at least one woman in the U.S. Senate, as both candidates who advanced in California’s top-two primary for Senate are men. California is also the first state to have been represented by two women in the Senate.
- Two sitting congresswomen were defeated in bids for Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. They join 2 (2D) women incumbents retiring from office.
- North Carolina
- Laurie Buckhout is the Republican nominee in North Carolina’s 1st congressional district, currently rated as a toss-up. Incumbent Kathy Manning (D) did not run for re-election, so North Carolina has the potential to maintain representation in its congressional delegation.
- Incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt (R) was defeated by Republican primary challenger Michele Morrow.
- Texas
- There will be woman vs. woman rematches in Texas’ 15th, 16th, and 18th congressional districts. Learn more about these races through history at Woman vs. Woman: Congressional and Gubernatorial Races.
- Former Representative Mayra Flores is the Republican nominee in Texas’ 34th congressional district; she lost a race for this seat in 2022. Learn more about women who are mounting challenges in 2024 after a previous election loss at Rebound Women Candidates in 2024 Elections.
Alabama
U.S. Senate
There is no U.S. Senate election in Alabama in 2024.
U.S. House
Women Nominees in 2024: Based on primary election results, women are 3 of 11 (27.3%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Alabama, including 2 of 4 (50%) Democrats and 1 of 7 (14.3%) Republicans. The number of women major-party nominees for the U.S. House falls short of the previous high (5), first set in 2022.
Eight (3D, 5R) women House candidates were unsuccessful. Of the 3 (2D, 1R) women nominees for U.S. House in Alabama: 1 (1D) is an incumbent, 1 (1D) is a challenger to an incumbent, and 1 (1R) is running for an open seat.
| District | Woman Nominee | Party | Seat Status | Race/Ethnicity | Current Cook Political Report Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Caroleene Dobson | R | Open Seat | White | Likely Democrat |
|
6 |
Elizabeth Anderson |
D |
Challenger |
White |
Solid Republican |
|
7 |
Terri Sewell |
D |
Incumbent |
Black |
Solid Democrat |
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 1 (1D) of 7 (14.3%) seats in the Alabama delegation to the U.S. House. Three (2D, 1R) women ever served in the U.S. House from Alabama.
Women Candidates in 2024: Eleven (5D, 6R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in Alabama in 2024. This marks the highest number of women running for the U.S. House in Alabama between 1990 and 2024. They were 11 of 36 (30.6%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2024.
Statewide Elective Executive Office
Women Nominees in 2024: Incumbent Public Service Commission President Twinkle Cavanaugh (R) won the Republican nomination in the only statewide executive primary held on March 5. She is currently running unopposed in the general election contest.
| District | Woman Nominee | Party | Seat Status | Race/Ethnicity | Current Cook Political Report Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Public Service Commissioner |
Twinkle Cavanaugh |
R |
Incumbent |
White |
N/A |
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 2 (2R) of 10 (20%) statewide elective executive offices in Alabama. Eighteen (13D, 5R) women have served in statewide elective executive office in Alabama.
Women Candidates in 2024: Cavanaugh was the only woman who filed as a candidate for the only statewide elective executive office up for election in Alabama in 2024: Public Service Commissioner. She is 1 of 2 (50%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2024.
Arkansas
U.S. Senate
There is no U.S. Senate election in Arkansas in 2024.
U.S. House
Women Nominees in 2024: Based on primary election results, women are 2 of 8 (25%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Arkansas, including 2 of 4 (50%) Democrats and 0 of 4 (0%) Republicans. The number of women major-party nominees for the U.S. House matches the previous high (2). Both women nominees for U.S. House in Arkansas are challengers to incumbents.
| District | Woman Nominee | Party | Seat Status | Race/Ethnicity | Current Cook Political Report Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
Caitlin Draper |
D |
Challenger |
White |
Solid Republican |
|
4 |
Risie Howard |
D |
Challenger |
Black |
Solid Republican |
Milestones to Watch in the 2024 General Election:
- No woman has represented Arkansas in the U.S. House since 1997. No woman has represented Arkansas in the U.S. Congress since 2011.
- No Black woman has ever represented Arkansas in the U.S. Congress.
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 0 of 4 (0%) seats in the Arkansas delegation to the U.S. House. Four (4D) women have served in the U.S. House from Arkansas, with the last woman representation (Blanche Lambert Lincoln) leaving the U.S. House in 1997.
Women Candidates in 2024: Two (2D) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in Arkansas in 2024. This is not a record high. They were 2 of 9 (22.2%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2024.
Statewide Elective Executive Office
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 2 (2R) of 7 (28.6%) statewide elective executive offices in Arkansas. Nine (5D, 4R) women have served in statewide elective executive office in Arkansas.
Women Candidates in 2024: No women filed as candidates for Arkansas State Treasurer, the only statewide elective executive office up for election in Arkansas in 2024. Three (3D) women have previously served as treasurer.
California
U.S. Senate
Women Nominees in 2024: No women advanced to the general election as nominees for the U.S. Senate. Seven (4D, 3R) women candidates, including U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (D) and Katie Porter (D), were unsuccessful. California has been represented by at least one woman in the U.S. Senate since 1992.
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 1 (1D) of California’s U.S. Senate seats. Four (4D) women have served in the U.S. Senate from California.
Women Candidates in 2024: Seven (4D, 3R) women filed as candidates for U.S. Senate in California in 2024. This marks the highest number of women running for the U.S. Senate in California between 1990 and 2024. They were 7 of 21 (33.3%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2024.
- Incumbent U.S. Senator LaPhonza Butler (D), who was appointed to fill the vacancy of former Senator Dianne Feinstein (D) in October 2023, did not run for a full term.
U.S. House
Women Nominees in 2024: Based on primary election results, women are 25 of 104 (24%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in California, including 17 of 55 (30.9%) Democrats and 8 of 49 (16.3%) Republicans. California does not hold party primaries; instead, the top two vote-getters of all primary candidates advance to the general election. The high for women U.S. House nominees is 35, first set in 2020.
Thirty (21D, 9R) women House candidates were unsuccessful. Of the 25 (17D, 8R) women nominees for U.S. House in California: 13 (11D, 2R) are incumbents, 8 (2D, 6R) are challengers, and 4 (4D) are running for open seats.
| District | Woman Nominee | Party | Seat Status | Race/Ethnicity | Current Cook Political Report Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rose Penelope Yee | D | Challenger | Asian American/Pacific Islander | Solid Republican |
|
3 |
Jessica Morse |
D |
Challenger |
White |
Likely Republican |
| 6 | Christine Bish | R | Challenger | White | Solid Democrat |
|
7 |
Doris Matsui |
D |
Incumbent |
Asian American/Pacific Islander |
Solid Democrat |
| 10 | Katherine Piccinini | R | Challenger | Unavailable | Solid Democrat |
|
11 |
Nancy Pelosi |
D |
Incumbent |
White |
Solid Democrat |
| 12 | Lateefah Simon | D | Open | Black | Solid Democrat |
| 12 | Jennifer Tran | D | Open | Asian American/Pacific Islander | Solid Democrat |
|
15 |
Anna Cheng Kramer |
R |
Challenger |
Asian American/Pacific Islander |
Solid Democrat |
| 17 | Anita Chen | R | Challenger | Asian American/Pacific Islander | Solid Democrat |
|
18 |
Zoe Lofgren |
D |
Incumbent |
White |
Solid Democrat |
|
26 |
Julia Brownley |
D |
Incumbent |
White |
Solid Democrat |
|
28 |
Judy Chu |
D |
Incumbent |
Asian American/Pacific Islander |
Solid Democrat |
|
28 |
April Verlato |
R |
Challenger |
White |
Solid Democrat |
| 29 | Luz Maria Rivas | D | Open | Latina | Solid Democrat |
| 30 | Laura Friedman | D | Open | White | Solid Democrat |
|
35 |
Norma Torres |
D |
Incumbent |
Latina |
Solid Democrat |
| 36 | Melissa Toomim | R | Challenger | Latina/MENA/White | Solid Democrat |
|
37 |
Sydney Kamlager |
D |
Incumbent |
Black |
Solid Democrat |
|
38 |
Linda Sánchez |
D |
Incumbent |
Latina |
Solid Democrat |
|
40 |
Young Kim |
R |
Incumbent |
Asian American/Pacific Islander |
Likely Republican |
|
43 |
Maxine Waters |
D |
Incumbent |
Black |
Solid Democrat |
|
44 |
Nanette Diaz Barragan |
D |
Incumbent |
Latina |
Solid Democrat |
|
45 |
Michelle Steel |
R |
Incumbent |
Asian American/Pacific Islander |
Lean Republican |
|
51 |
Sara Jacobs |
D |
Incumbent |
White |
Solid Democrat |
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 17 (15D, 2R) of 52 (32.7%) seats in the California delegation to the U.S. House. Forty-six (36D, 10R) women have served in the U.S. House from California.
Women Candidates in 2024: Fifty-five (38D, 17R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in California in 2024. This is not a record high. They were 55 of 213 (25.8%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2024.
- Four (4D) women incumbents are not running for re-election, including two who are retiring (Anna Eshoo and Grace Napolitano) and two who are running in California’s U.S. Senate election (Barbara Lee and Katie Porter). Eshoo (D-CA16) has served in the U.S. House since 1993. Napolitano (D-CA31) has served in the U.S. House since 1999. Lee (D-CA12) has served in the U.S. House since 1998. Porter (D-CA47) has served in the U.S. House since 2019.
Statewide Elective Executive Office
There are no statewide executive elections in California in 2024.
North Carolina
U.S. Senate
There is no U.S. Senate contest in North Carolina in 2024.
U.S. House
Women Nominees in 2024: Based on primary election results, women are 6 of 25 (24%) major-party nominees already selected for U.S. House in North Carolina, including 4 of 12 (33.3%) Democrats and 2 of 13 (15.4%) Republicans. One (1R) woman – Kelly Daughtry – will advance to a runoff election for the open seat in North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District on May 14. The number of women major-party nominees for the U.S. House will fall short of the previous high (11), first set in 2022.
Six (6R) women House candidates were unsuccessful. Of the 6 (4D, 2R) women nominees for U.S. House in North Carolina: 4 (3D, 1R) are incumbents, 1 (1R) is a challenger, and 1 (1D) is running for an open seat.
| District | Woman Nominee | Party | Seat Status | Race/Ethnicity | Current Cook Political Report Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Laurie Buckhout |
R |
Challenger |
White |
Toss Up Democrat |
|
2 |
Deborah Ross |
D |
Incumbent |
White |
Solid Democrat |
|
4 |
Valerie Foushee |
D |
Incumbent |
Black |
Solid Democrat |
|
5 |
Virginia Foxx |
R |
Incumbent |
White |
Solid Republican |
|
12 |
Alma Adams |
D |
Incumbent |
Black |
Solid Democrat |
|
14 |
Pam Genant |
D |
Open |
White |
Solid Republican |
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 5 (4D, 1R) of 14 (35.7%) seats in the North Carolina delegation to the U.S. House. Nine (6D, 3R) women have served in the U.S. House from North Carolina.
Women Candidates in 2024: Thirteen (4D, 9R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in North Carolina in 2024. This is not a record high. They were 13 of 64 (20.3%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2024.
- Incumbent U.S. Representative Kathy Manning (D-NC06) is not running for re-election. Manning has served in the U.S. House since 2021.
Statewide Elective Executive Office
Women Nominees in 2024: Based on primary election results, women are 6 of 18 (33.3%) major-party nominees already selected for statewide elective executive offices in North Carolina, including 5 of 10 (50%) Democrats and 1 of 8 (12.5%) Republicans.
Nine (3D, 6R) women statewide executive candidates were unsuccessful, including incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt (R). Of the 6 (5D, 1R) women nominees for statewide executive offices in North Carolina: 2 (2D) are incumbents, 2 (2D) are challengers, and 2 (1D, 1R) are running for an open seat, including successful primary challenger Michele Morrow (R).
| District | Woman Nominee | Party | Seat Status | Race/Ethnicity | Current Cook Political Report Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Auditor |
Jessica Holmes |
D |
Incumbent |
Black |
N/A |
|
Lieutenant Governor |
Rachel Hunt |
D |
Open |
White |
N/A |
|
Secretary of State |
Elaine Marshall |
D |
Incumbent |
White |
N/A |
|
Commissioner of Insurance |
Natasha Marcus |
D |
Challenger |
White |
N/A |
|
Superintendent of Public Instruction |
Michele Morrow |
R |
Open Seat (defeated incumbent in primary) |
White |
N/A |
|
Commissioner of Agriculture |
Sarah Taber |
D |
Challenger |
White |
N/A |
Milestones to Watch in the 2024 General Election:
- No woman has served as commissioner of insurance in North Carolina.
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 3 (2D, 1R) of 10 (30%) statewide elective executive offices in North Carolina. Ten (8D, 2R) women have served in statewide elective executive office in North Carolina.
Women Candidates in 2024: Fifteen (8D, 7R) women filed as candidates for the 10 statewide elective executive seats up for election in North Carolina in 2024. They were 15 of 60 (25%) total major-party candidates for statewide elective executive office in 2024.
Texas
U.S. Senate
Women Nominees in 2024: No women advanced to the general election as nominees for the U.S. Senate. Two (2D) women candidates were unsuccessful.
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: No women currently represent Texas in the U.S. Senate. One (1R) woman – Kay Bailey Hutchison – has served in the U.S. Senate from Texas.
Women Candidates in 2024: Two (2D) women filed as candidates for U.S. Senate in Texas in 2024. This is not a record high. Women were 2 of 12 (16.7%) total major-party candidates for the U.S. Senate in 2024.
U.S. House
Women Nominees in 2024: Based on primary election results, women are 22 of 60 (36.7%) major-party nominees already selected for U.S. House in Texas, including 16 of 32 (50%) Democrats and 6 of 28 (21.4%) Republicans. One (1R) woman – Caroline Kane – will advance to a runoff election to challenge the incumbent in Texas' 7th Congressional District on May 28. The number of women major-party nominees for the U.S. House will fall short of the previous high (25), first set in 2020.
Fifteen (4D, 11R) women House candidates were unsuccessful. Of the 22 (16D, 6R) women nominees for U.S. House in Texas: 7 (5D, 2R) are incumbents and 14 (10D, 4R) are challengers, and one (1D) is running for an open seat.
| District | Woman Nominee | Party | Seat Status | Race/Ethnicity | Current Cook Political Report Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
Ruth Torres |
D |
Challenger |
Latina/White |
Solid Republican |
|
7 |
Lizzie Pannill Fletcher |
D |
Incumbent |
White |
Solid Democrat |
|
8 |
Laura Jones |
D |
Challenger |
White |
Solid Republican |
|
10 |
Theresa Boisseau |
D |
Challenger |
White |
Solid Republican |
|
14 |
Rhonda Hart |
D |
Challenger |
White |
Solid Republican |
|
15 |
Michelle Vallejo |
D |
Challenger |
Latina |
Likely Republican |
|
15 |
Monica De La Cruz |
R |
Incumbent |
Latina |
Likely Republican |
|
16 |
Veronica Escobar |
D |
Incumbent |
Latina |
Solid Democrat |
|
16 |
Irene Armendariz-Jackson |
R |
Challenger |
Latina |
Solid Democrat |
|
18 |
Sheila Jackson Lee |
D |
Incumbent |
Black |
Solid Democrat |
|
18 |
Lana Centonze |
R |
Challenger |
Black |
Solid Democrat |
|
21 |
Kristin Hook |
D |
Challenger |
Latina/White |
Solid Republican |
|
22 |
Marquette Greene-Scott |
D |
Challenger |
Black |
Solid Republican |
|
24 |
Beth Van Duyne |
R |
Incumbent |
White |
Solid Republican |
|
27 |
Tanya Lloyd |
D |
Challenger |
White |
Solid Republican |
|
29 |
Sylvia Garcia |
D |
Incumbent |
Latina |
Solid Democrat |
|
30 |
Jasmine Crockett |
D |
Incumbent |
Black |
Solid Democrat |
| 32 | Julie Johnson | D | Open | White | Solid Democrat |
|
34 |
Mayra Flores |
R |
Challenger |
Latina |
Lean Democrat |
|
36 |
Dayna Steele |
D |
Challenger |
White |
Solid Republican |
|
37 |
Jenny Garcia Sharon |
R |
Challenger |
Latina |
Solid Democrat |
|
38 |
Melissa McDonough |
D |
Challenger |
White |
Solid Republican |
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 8 (5D, 3R) of 38 (21.1%) seats in the Texas delegation to the U.S. House. Thirteen (8D, 5R) women have served in the U.S. House from Texas.
Women Candidates in 2024: Thirty-eight (20D, 18R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in Texas in 2024. This is not a record high. Women were 38 of 159 (23.9%) total major-party candidates for the U.S. House in 2024.
- Incumbent U.S. Representative Kay Granger (R-TX12) is not running for re-election. Granger has served in the U.S. House since 1997.
Statewide Elective Executive Office
Women Nominees in 2024: Based on primary election results, women are both major-party nominees for railroad commissioner, the sole statewide executive office up for election in Texas in 2024. Incumbent Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick (R) will be challenged by Democratic nominee Katherine Culbert.
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| District | Woman Nominee | Party | Seat Status | Race/Ethnicity | Current Cook Political Report Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Railroad Commissioner | Christi Craddick | R | Incumbent | White | N/A |
|
Railroad Commissioner |
Katherine Culbert |
D |
Challenger |
White |
N/A |
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 2 (2R) of 9 (22.2%) statewide elective executive offices in Texas. Ten (6D, 4R, 1Ind) women have served in statewide elective executive office in Texas.
Women Candidates in 2024: Four (1D, 3R) women filed as candidates for the sole statewide elective executive office up for election in Texas in 2024. Women were 4 of 7 (57.1%) total major-party candidates for railroad commissioner in 2024.
For primary results summaries from other states and full results, including candidate lists, summaries, and historical comparisons, see CAWP’s Election Watch.
