Results from the Nebraska and West Virginia Primaries: Few Opportunities to Expand Women's Representation

CAWP Staff

Two primaries were held on Tuesday in Nebraska and West Virginia. Full context about women in the 2022 elections, including candidate lists, summaries, and historical comparisons, are available via the Center for American Women and Politics’ (CAWP) Election Watch.

Among the most notable results for women:

  • State Senator Carol Blood (D) won the Democratic nomination for governor of Nebraska. The first and only woman governor of Nebraska – Kay Orr (R) – served from 1987 to 1991. This open-seat contest is currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report.
  • Patty Pansing Brooks (D) is the Democratic nominee in NE-01, where she will face Republican nominee Mike Flood (R) in a general election contest currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report. Because Fortenberry resigned from the U.S. House on March 31, 2022, there will also be a special election between Brooks (D) and Flood (R) to fill the remainder of Fortenberry’s term on June 28, 2022.
  • Incumbent Representative Carol Miller (R) won the Republican nomination in WV-01 (moving from her current WV-03 due to reapportionment and redistricting) and is strongly favored to win re-election in November.

 

Nebraska

U.S. House

Women currently hold 0 of 3 (0%) seats in the Nebraska delegation to the U.S. House. One (1R) woman has ever served in the U.S. House from Nebraska: Virginia Smith (R) served from 1975 to 1991.

Three (2D, 1R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in Nebraska in 2022.

Based on primary election results, women are 1 of 6 (16.7%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Nebraska, including 1 of 3 (33.3%) Democrats and 0 of 3 (0%) Republicans. Two (1D, 1R) women House candidates were unsuccessful.

  • Patty Pansing Brooks (D) is the Democratic nominee in NE-01, where incumbent Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R) withdrew from the contest but appeared on the ballot. Pansing Brooks will face Republican nominee Mike Flood (R) in a general election contest currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report. Because Fortenberry resigned from the U.S. House on March 31, 2022, there will also be a special election to fill the remainder of his term. That general election, also between Patti Pansing Brooks (D) and Mike Flood (R), will be held on June 28, 2022.

 

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Women currently hold 0 of 6 (0%) statewide elective executive offices in Nebraska. Seven (4D, 3R) women have ever served in statewide elective executive offices in Nebraska, including 1 (1R) woman – Kay Orr – who has served as both governor (1987-1991) and treasurer (1981-1987). The last woman to serve in statewide elective executive office left office in 2007.

Five (1D, 4R) women ran in primaries for two of the six statewide executive positions up for election in Nebraska in 2022, including 4 (1D, 3R) women who ran for governor of Nebraska and 1 (1R) woman who ran for attorney general.

Based on primary election results, women are 1 of 6 (16.7%) major-party nominees for statewide elective executive office in Nebraska, including 1 of 1 (100%) Democrat and 0 of 5 (0%) Republicans. Four (4R) women statewide elective executive candidates were unsuccessful.

  • State Senator Carol Blood (D) won the Democratic nomination for governor of Nebraska. This open-seat contest is currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report.

 

West Virginia

U.S. House

Women currently hold 1 (1R) of 3 (33.3%) seats in the West Virginia delegation to the U.S. House. Three (1D, 2R) women have ever served in the U.S. House from West Virginia.   

West Virginia has lost a U.S. House seat due to reapportionment.

Four (1D, 3R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in West Virginia in 2022.

Based on primary election results, women are 1 of 4 (25%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in West Virginia, including 0 of 2 (0%) Democrats and 1 of 2 (50%) Republicans. Three (1D, 2R) women House candidates were unsuccessful.

  • Incumbent Representative Carol Miller (R) is running for re-election. While she currently represents WV-03, Miller has won the nomination in WV-01 due to reapportionment and redistricting. This district is currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report.

For primary results summaries from other states and full results, including candidate lists, summaries, and historical comparisons, see CAWP’s Election Watch.

CAWP Staff