A Woman Veteran Could be Elected Governor for the First Time in 2025
Two women veterans are on gubernatorial ballots in 2025. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) served in the U.S. Navy, and Winsome Earle-Sears (R-VA) served in the U.S. Marines. They are two of four women veterans who have been major-party nominees for governor since 2010.
- In 2022, Theresa Livingston (D), an Air Force veteran, was unsuccessful in her bid for governor of Wyoming.
- In 2018, Lupe Valdez (D), an Army veteran, was unsuccessful in her bid for governor of Texas.
Already, at least one woman veteran has declared candidacy for governor in 2026: current Pennsylvania state Treasurer Stacey Garrity (R-PA).
According to the Pew Research Center, men and Republican voters are the most likely to favor political candidates with military backgrounds.
While no woman veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces has served as governor, 13 (6D, 7R) congresswomen have served as active-duty members of the U.S. military. This count does not include U.S. Senator Margaret Chase Smith (R-ME), who served as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 1950 to 1957. This was during her time in the U.S. Senate.
U.S. Representative Heather Wilson (R-NM), an Air Force veteran, became the first woman veteran to serve in the U.S. Congress in 1998. Other than Wilson, all women veterans who have served in Congress have entered since 2013.
- 12 women veterans have served in the U.S. House.
- 3 women veterans have served in the U.S. Senate.
- 2 women veterans have served in both chambers (Duckworth and McSally).
Already, at least 20 (145, 5R) non-incumbent women veterans have announced bids for Congress in 2026.
For more information on women veterans in American Politics, see Erika Cornelius Smith’s book Service Above Self: Women Veterans in American Politics.
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