A Record Number of Democratic Women Are Running for State Legislatures in 2026

Women make up nearly seven in ten candidates for state legislative seats in November.

According to the Center for American Women and Politics, a record 3,824 women are running for state legislative seats in the November 3, 2026, general election. A record number of Democratic women are running, making up 68% of those candidates. The DLCC and state Democrats have built a historic, diverse coalition of candidates who reflect their communities and will serve as a firewall to the MAGA agenda nationwide.

With just one-third of state legislative seats currently being held by women, November’s election could drastically shift the balance of power in our country while ushering in a historic level of diverse leadership.

Why do November’s state legislative elections matter?

Think of your local public school, your doctor’s office, the roads you drive on, and the housing you live in. State legislators make the most important state budget and policy decisions that touch your day-to-day life. This is why the DLCC works to elect Democratic leaders who look out for their communities – knowing full well they are not just their constituents, but neighbors.

Even as momentum continues to lean heavily toward Democrats, we cannot take anything for granted – consequential wins can rely on just a handful of votes in hundreds of competitive districts. The DLCC is supporting candidates in over 500 Target Races across the country to usher in a new generation of Democrats to lead the fight for progress.

The DLCC’s top targets in November are:

• Arizona (Flip both chambers)
• Michigan (Flip House expand Senate majority)
• Minnesota (Flip House and protect and expand Senate majority)
• New Hampshire (Flip both chambers)
• Pennsylvania (Expand House majority, pick up seats in Senate)
• Wisconsin (Flip both chambers)
• We are also closely watching and working to maximize gains in Georgia, North Carolina, Iowa, and more.

Strengthening Democrats’ power in the states is crucial to ensuring statehouse Republicans won’t have an opportunity to rig congressional maps ahead of 2028 or rewrite the rules to undermine our elections for years to come.

Follow the 2026 Election Results:

On Election Night, you can track results directly from the DLCC along with other information at our election results hub: DLCC.org/results.

This final stretch ahead of Election Day is going to decide the path to long-term power for our party – for Congress, for the path to the presidency, for protecting civil rights, fair representation, and elections that reflect the will of the people.

It’s not too late to organize, invest in, and join the fight for our democracy against the MAGA agenda.