From March to December 2018, the Four primaries were held on Tuesday in Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Full results, including candidate lists, summaries, and historical comparisons, are available via the Center for American Women and Politics’ (CAWP) Election Watch page.
Among the most notable results for women:
- Both Connecticut and Minnesota are likely to elect their first women of color to the U.S. Congress in 2018; both are Black women. In CT-05, a district rated currently as solidly Democratic, Jahana Hayes won the Democratic nomination. In MN-05, Ilhan Omar secured the Democratic nomination in another district that strongly favors Democrats. Omar is also the second Muslim woman nominee selected in 2018 that is strongly favored to win in November, joining MI-13 Democratic nominee Rashida Tlaib.
- Christine Hallquist secured the Democratic nomination for governor in Vermont, becoming the first openly transgender person to be a major-party nominee for governor in the U.S. She is the 13th woman nominee, and 9th woman Democratic nominee, for governor selected thus far in election 2018.
- In Wisconsin and Minnesota, women candidates for governor were unsuccessful in securing major-party nominations, ensuring that both states remain among the states that have never had a woman governor.
- In Minnesota’s gubernatorial race, both male nominees have selected Native American women as running mates: Peggy Flanagan (DFL) and Donna Bergstrom (R). Either woman would be the first woman of color elected statewide in Minnesota and the first Native American woman lieutenant governor elected nationwide.
- According to CAWP, a record number of women are nominees for the U.S. Senate after the August 14th primaries. Five women, including all 3 (3D) incumbents, won U.S. Senate nominations in three contests; the Minnesota special Senate election and Wisconsin’s Senate race will be all-female, and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar secured the Democratic nomination for re-election. There are now five all-female U.S. Senate contests already slated for November’s general election.
- All 3 (3D) women House incumbents who competed in Tuesday’s primaries advanced to the general election and are currently favored to win re-election this fall. Of the 6 (4D, 2R) non-incumbent women advancing, 3 (3D) are in contests that are currently rated as toss-ups or that favor her party. The remaining 3 (1D, 2R) non-incumbent women who won on Tuesday are running in districts that currently favor their opponents.
U.S. House
- 9 (7D, 2R) of 21 (42.9%) women candidates for the U.S. House in CT, MN, VT, and WI won their primary bids for office on August 14th. Twelve (6D, 6R) women House candidates were unsuccessful.
- 7 of 13 (53.8%) Democratic women and 2 of 8 (25%) Republican women candidates for the U.S. House secured nominations.
- Women are 9 of 43 (20.9%) of the major-party candidates selected in U.S. House races from these states, including 7 of 22 (31.8%) Democrats and 2 of 21 (9.5%) Republicans.
- All 3 (3D) women incumbents advanced to the general election for re-election in CT, MN, VT, and WI; all will run in districts where they are strongly favored for re-election according to Cook Political Report.
- 3 (2D, 1R) women nominees will run as challengers to incumbents, with 2 (1D, 1R) running in districts that strongly favor their opponents. In MN-02, Democrat Angie Craig will challenge Republican incumbent Jason Lewis in a district currently deemed a toss-up by Cook Political Report.
- 3 (2D, 1R) women are nominees for open seats, including both major-party nominees in Minnesota’s 5th congressional district.
- Of the 9 women primary winners for the U.S. House in CT, MN, VT, and WI, 3 (33.3%) are women of color, each of whom identifies as Black. In addition to incumbent Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI), Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) secured nominations in open seat contests where they are favored to win in November. Both will be the first women of color to represent their states in Congress. Moreover, Omar is now the second Muslim woman likely to enter Congress in January, joining Rashida Tlaib from Michigan’s 13th congressional district.
U.S. Senate
- 7 (4D, 3R) women competed for U.S. Senate on August 14th in CT, MN, VT, and WI, including incumbent Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Tina Smith (D-MN). Baldwin was uncontested in her bid for re-election, and Klobuchar and Smith secured their nominations for re-election.
- In all, 5 (3D, 2R) women, all White, won U.S. Senate nominations in three contests. Two general election contests will be all-female: Karin Housley will challenge Tina Smith in Minnesota’s special Senate election and Leah Vukmir will challenge Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin’s Senate race.
- 2 (1D, 1R) women candidates were defeated in their bids for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.
Statewide Elected Executive Office (including Governor)
- Of the 6 (6D) women who ran for governor in MN, VT, and WI, just 1 (1D) was successful. Christine Hallquist (D) will challenge incumbent VT governor Phil Scott this fall in a race currently favoring Scott. Hallquist is the first openly transgender major-party nominee for governor in the U.S.
- Of the 24 (13D, 11R) women who competed for statewide elected executive offices other than governor in CT, MN, VT, and WI, 11 (6D, 5R) (45.8%) won nominations on August 14th.
- 2 (1D, 1R) of the 12 women nominees for statewide elected executive offices (including governor) in these states are women of color. In Minnesota, both major-party candidates for lieutenant governor are Native American women: Peggy Flanagan (DFL) and Donna Bergstrom (R). Either woman would be the first woman of color elected statewide in Minnesota and the first Native American woman lieutenant governor elected nationwide. Just one Native American woman has ever been elected to a statewide executive office in the U.S.; Denise Juneau served as Montana’s Superintendent of Public Instruction from 2009-2017.
Connecticut
U.S. House
Women are 3 of 10 (30%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Connecticut. 2(1D, 1R) women were unsuccessful in their bids for U.S. House nominations this year.
- In the open seat contest to replace Representative Elizabeth Etsy (D) in Connecticut’s 5th congressional district, Democratic nominee Jahana Hayes is favored to win in November. If successful, she will be the first woman of color and the first Black Democrat to represent Connecticut in Congress.
- Incumbent Rosa Delauro (D) will run for her 15th term in Congress in November, where she is strongly favored to win.
- In CT-01, Jennifer Nye will challenge the Democratic incumbent in a race strongly favoring her opponent.
U.S. Senate
There were no women among the 3 (1D, 2R) candidates on Connecticut’s primary ballot to challenge incumbent Senator Chris Murphy (D).
Statewide Elected Executive Office
Women currently hold 3 of 6 statewide elected executive offices in Connecticut. This year, 4 of 12 (33.3%) major party nominees for statewide executive offices in Connecticut are women, including 2 of 6 (33.3%) Democratic and 2 of 6 (33.3%) Republican nominees.
- Both major-party nominees for secretary of state are women; incumbent Secretary of State Denise Merrill will be challenged by Republican Susan Chapman. They will continue a long tradition of women serving in this role in Connecticut, where a woman has served as secretary of state for 72 of the last 79 years.
- Former Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz secured the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.
- In the open seat race for attorney general, Susan Hatfield is the Republican nominee.
None of the 4 women nominees for statewide executive office in Connecticut are women of color.
4 (2D, 2R) women were defeated in their primary bids for statewide executive office in Connecticut.
Minnesota
U.S. House
Women are 4 of 16 (25%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Minnesota, including 1 of 8 (12.5%) Republicans and 3 of 8 (37.5%) Democrats. 6 (4D, 2R) women House candidates were unsuccessful.
- Incumbent Representative Betty McCollum (D) will run for re-election this fall in a district where she is strongly favored to win.
- In MN-02, Democratic nominee Angie Craig will challenge incumbent Representative Jason Lewis (R) in a race currently deemed a toss-up by Cook Political Report.
- The open seat contest in MN-05 is all-female. Democratic nominee Ilhan Omar is favored to win against Republican nominee Jennifer Zielinski. If successful, Omar will be the first woman of color to represent Minnesota in Congress and one of two Muslim women elected to Congress in 2018.
Omar, who is Somali-American, is the only woman of color among the 4 women House nominees in Minnesota this year.
U.S. Senate
3 of 4 (75%) U.S. Senate nominees in Minnesota are women in 2018. Incumbent Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith secured their nominations for re-election this year and both are favored to win in November. In the special election to complete former Senator Al Franken’s term, Smith will be challenged by Republican nominee Karin Housley in an all-female general election contest.
Statewide Elected Executive Office
Women currently hold 3 of 5 statewide elected executive offices in Minnesota. This year, 4 of 8 (50%) major party nominees for statewide executive offices in Minnesota are women, including 2 of 4 (50%) Democratic and 2 of 4 (50%) Republican nominees.
- Both major-party nominees for state auditor and lieutenant governor are women, ensuring that a woman will hold both of those positions in January.
- Both women nominees for lieutenant governor – Peggy Flanagan (DFL) and Donna Bergstrom (R), selected as running mates by male candidates for governor, are Native American. Either woman would be the first woman of color elected statewide in Minnesota and the first Native American woman lieutenant governor elected nationwide.
7 (4D, 3R) women were defeated in their primary bids for statewide executive office in Minnesota, including the DFL-endorsed candidate for governor, Erin Murphy. Due to the losses of both women primary candidates for governor, Minnesota will continue to among the states that has never had a woman governor.
Vermont
U.S. Congress
Vermont is the only state that has never sent a woman to the U.S. Congress and that will not change after this year’s elections.
- Just 1 (1R) woman ran for Vermont’s at-large U.S. House seat this year to challenge incumbent Representative Peter Welch. She was defeated in the primary.
- 1 (1D) woman challenged incumbent Senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary and was defeated.
Statewide Elected Executive Office
Women currently hold 1 of 6 statewide elected executive offices in Vermont. This year, 2 of 14 (14.3%) major-party nominees for statewide executive offices in Vermont are women, including 2 of 7 (28.6%) Democratic and 0 of 7 (0%) Republican nominees.
- Christine Hallquist won the Democratic nomination for governor in a contest currently favoring her opponent, incumbent Governor Phil Scott. Hallquist is the first openly transgender major-party nominee for governor in the U.S.
- Incumbent Treasurer Beth Pearce (D) was unopposed in her primary bid for re-election.
Wisconsin
U.S. House
Women are 2 of 15 (13.3%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Wisconsin, including 2 of 8 (25%) Democrats and 0 of 7 (0%) Republicans. 3 (1D, 2R) women House candidates were unsuccessful.
- Incumbent Representative Gwen Moore (D) secured her nomination for re-election in a contest she is strongly favored to win in November. She is the only woman of color nominee for congressional or statewide executive office in Wisconsin this year.
- In WI-07, Democratic nominee Margaret Engebretson will challenge the Republican nominee in a race that strongly favors her opponent.
U.S. Senate
Incumbent Senator Tammy Baldwin (D) was unopposed in her primary bid for re-election. She will be challenged by another woman – Leah Vukmir (R) – in a contest that strongly favors the incumbent this fall.
Statewide Elected Executive Office
Women currently hold 1 of 6 statewide elected executive offices in Wisconsin. This year, 2 of 10 (20%) major-party nominees for statewide executive offices in Wisconsin are women, including 1 of 5 (20%) Democratic and 1 of 5 (20%) Republican nominees.
- Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch (R) will run for re-election this fall.
- In the open seat contest for state treasurer, Sarah Godlewsi (D) won the Democratic nomination.
6 (5D, 1R) women were defeated in their primary bids for statewide executive office in Wisconsin, including both (2D) women candidates for governor. As a result, Wisconsin will continue to among the states that has never had a woman governor.
In case you missed it…
Hawaii’s primary election was held on Saturday, August 11th. A review of the results for women is below.
U.S. House
Women are 1 of 4 (13.3%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Hawaii, including 1 of 2 (50%) Democrats and 0 of 2 (0%) Republicans. 3 (3D) women House candidates were unsuccessful.
- Incumbent Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D) secured her nomination for re-election in a contest she is strongly favored to win in November.
- Incumbent Representative Colleen Hanabusa (D) did not run for re-election, instead competing for the Democratic nomination for governor. She was unsuccessful in that bid and will not be replaced by a woman in the U.S. House next year.
U.S. Senate
Incumbent Senator Mazie Hirono (D) was unopposed in her primary bid for re-election. She is strongly favored to win this fall. Hirono is the only woman of color nominee for the U.S. Senate thus far in 2018.
Statewide Elected Executive Office
Women currently hold 0 of 2 statewide elected executive offices in Hawaii. This year, 2 of 4 (50%) major-party nominees for statewide executive offices in Hawaii are women, including both of the state’s Republican nominees. Republican nominee for governor Andria Tupola will be on the ballot with Marisa Kerns as her running mate in Hawaii’s gubernatorial contest this fall. They are just the 5th all-female major-party ticket to compete in a general election for governor. Previous all-female general election tickets include:
- 1994: Dawn Clark Netsch & Penny Severns (D-IL)
- 1999: Peppy Martin & Wanda Cornelius (R-KY)
- 2013: Barbara Buono & Milly Silva (D-NJ)
- 2014: Susan Wismer & Susy Blake (D-SD)
3 (3D) women were defeated in their primary bids for statewide executive office in Hawaii, including current U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa (D), who challenged incumbent Governor David Ige for the Democratic nomination for governor.
