... this year another state will elect a woman as governor for the first time!
In Virginia's election for governor this November, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) and former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D) will face each other — so no matter who wins, Virginia will elect a woman as governor for the first time in its history.
This will be the 11th governor's election in history where both major parties' nominees are women.
According to the Center for American Women in Politics:
- 51 women have served as governor in 32 states.
- Arizona is the first state where a woman succeeded another woman as governor and the first state to have had 5 women governors.
- Of the 51 women governors, 35 were first elected in their own right; 3 replaced their husbands, and 13 became governor by constitutional succession, 7 of whom subsequently won full terms.
- The record number of women serving simultaneously was achieved this year, in 2025, and is 14.
And since we know you're busy, here are our top picks for other "must reads" this month!
- For the adventurer ready to hit the road, women in Congress have introduced legislation to ensure cars are tested properly for women's safety, using crash dummies that reflect women's lighter frames.
- For the mother who's got multitasking down to a fine art, the Washington Post covered the failed measure to allow new parents in Congress to vote by proxy and the state lawmakers who are hoping "their states can find solutions to bring and keep younger women in state capitols."
- For the woman who wants to Remember the Ladies, check out our monthly feature on key moments in women's representation and rights in the past during the month of April.
Click here to read the April 2025 newsletter.