Results from primary and special elections in CA, IA, MS, MT, NJ, NM, and SD: California Special Election Will Yield New Record for Women in Congress

CAWP Staff

LAST UPDATED: 7.17.22 12:30pm ET (final results)

 

Seven primaries were held on Tuesday in California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota. 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 thus far for women:

  • Former State Assemblywoman Connie Conway (R) won the special election to fill the remainder of former U.S. Representative Devin Nunes’ (R) term in California’s 22nd congressional district. Upon her swearing in, a record 146 women will serve in the U.S. Congress (27.3%), and a record 122 women will serve in the U.S. House (28%). Her entry will also mark a new high for Republican women in Congress (40) and in the House (32). These counts do not include four women who serve as non-voting delegates. Conway’s term will end in January 2023; she did not run for a full term starting in January 2023.
  • No women won nominations in the three states with U.S. Senate primary contests (California, Iowa, and South Dakota) on June 7th.
  • Women are the majority of U.S. House nominees in Iowa (62.5%) and New Mexico (83.3%), and women will be at least 50% of U.S. House nominees in Montana in November. Two of four general election U.S. House contests in Iowa and two of three general election U.S. House contests in New Mexico will be all women.
  • Among U.S. House contests already called in the seven states where primaries were held on June 7th:
    • Three (3D) non-incumbent women are in contests deemed competitive for their party by Cook Political Report:
      • Former State Assemblywoman Christy Smith (D) has advanced to the general election to challenge incumbent Representative Mike Garcia (R) in CA-27, a contest current rated as a Republican toss up by Cook Political Report. In the 2020 election, Garcia Defeated Smith in CA-25 by just over 300 votes. 
      • State Senator Sydney Kamlager (D) and former Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry (D) have advanced to the general election in CA-37, an all-woman contest currently rated as "Solid Democrat" by Cook Political Report.
    • All women incumbents running for re-election have already advanced to the general election. However, multiple incumbent women are in contests currently deemed toss ups by Cook Political Report: Cindy Axne (D, IA-03), Yvette Herrell (R, NM-02), and Michelle Steel (R, CA-45). In addition, 3 (3D) women incumbents from California did not run for re-election to the U.S. House: Karen Bass (D) ran for mayor of Los Angeles, and Jackie Speier (D) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D) will retire at the end of this term.
    • The sole woman candidate in South Dakota – State Representative Taffy Howard (R) – was unsuccessful in her Republican primary challenge to incumbent Representative Dusty Johnson (R) for South Dakota’s at-large U.S. House seat, ensuring that South Dakota will remain a state with no women in its congressional delegation in 2023.
    • Dianne Black (D) won the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Representative Trent Kelly (R) in MS-01, a contest currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report. She would be the first woman to serve in the U.S. House from Mississippi as well as the first Black woman to represent Mississippi in Congress.
    • Monica Tranel (D) won the Democratic nomination for the open-seat U.S. House contest in MT-01, a contest currently rated as “Likely Republican” by Cook Political Report. No woman has served in the U.S. Congress from Montana since 1943.
  • All 3 (2D, 1R) incumbent women governors in June 7th primary states – Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), Kristi Noem (R-SD), and Kim Reynolds (R-IA) – will be nominees for re-election in November.
    • Diedre DeJear (D) has won the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Governor Kim Reynolds (R) in November. DeJear is just the second Black woman to win a major-party nomination for governor in the U.S. The first was Stacey Abrams, who won the Democratic nomination for governor of Georgia in both 2018 and 2022. If elected, DeJear would be the first Democratic woman, first Black woman, and the first woman of color governor of Iowa, as well as the first Black woman governor in the U.S.
  • Audrey Trujillo (R) will challenge incumbent New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver (D) in an all-woman contest in November. 
  • Lara Montoya (D) won the Democratic nomination for treasurer in New Mexico. No woman has served as treasurer in New Mexico.

California

Iowa

Mississippi

Montana

New Jersey

New Mexico

South Dakota

 

California

U.S. Senate

Three (3D) women have served in the U.S. Senate from California: Dianne Feinstein (1992-present), Kamala Harris (2017-2021), and Barbara Boxer (1993-2017). Feinstein is not up for re-election this year.

One (1D) woman – Sarah Sun Liew (R) – filed as a challenger to Senator Alex Padilla (D). She was defeated in the primary. 

U.S. House

Women currently hold 19 (17D, 2R) of 53 (35.8%) seats in the California delegation to the U.S. House. Forty-four (35D, 9R) women have ever served in the U.S. House from California.

California will lose a U.S. House seat due to reapportionment.

In 2022, 56 (35D, 21R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in California. California holds a top-two primary election, meaning that multiple candidates from the same party can advance to the general election in November.

Based on primary election results, women are 26 of 103 (25.2%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in California, including 20 of 58 (34.5%) Democrats and 6 of 45 (13.3%) Republicans. Thirty (15D, 15R) women candidates for the U.S. House were unsuccessful.

  • 16 (14D, 2R) incumbent women are seeking re-election. 3 (3D) women incumbents are not running for re-election: Representative Karen Bass (D) is running for mayor of Los Angeles and Representatives Jackie Speier (D) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D) are retiring.
  • All 16 (14D, 2R) incumbent women seeking re-election have advanced to the general election. Of them, 14 (13D, 1R) are favored to win in November. Another 2 (1D, 1R) are in more competitive general election contests.
    • Incumbent Representative Katie Porter (D) is a nominee in CA-47, a contest currently rated as “Lean Democratic” by Cook Political Report.
    • Incumbent Representative Michelle Steel (R) will run in CA-45, a contest currently rated as a Republican toss up by Cook Political Report.
  • 8 (4D, 4R) women will challenge incumbents in November. 
    • Tamika Hamilton (R) has advanced to the general election to challenge incumbent Representative Ami Bera (D) in CA-06, a contest currently rated as "Solid Democrat" by Cook Political Report.
    • Alison Hayden (R) has advanced to the general election to challenge incumbent Representative Eric Swalwell (D) in CA-14, a contest currently rated as "Solid Democrat" by Cook Political Report.
    • Former State Assemblywoman Christy Smith (D) has advanced to the general election to challenge incumbent Representative Mike Garcia (R) in CA-27, a contest currently rated as a Republican toss up by Cook Political Report. In the 2020 election, Smith was defeated by Garcia in CA-25 by just over 300 votes.  
    • Marisa Wood (D) has advanced to the general election to challenge incumbent Representative Kevin McCarthy (R) in CA-20, a contest currently rated as "Solid Republican" by Cook Political Report.
    • Angelica Duenas (D) has advanced to the general election to challenge an incumbent of her own party – Representative Tony Cardenas (D) – in CA-29, a contest currently rated as "Solid Democrat" by Cook Political Report.
    • G. "Maebe A. Girl" Pudlo has advanced to the general election to challenge incumbent Representative Adam Schiff (D) in CA-30, rated as Solid Democrat" by Cook Political Report.
    • Lucie Volotzky (R) has advanced to the general election to challenge incumbent Representative Brad Sherman (D) in CA-32, a contest currently rated as Solid Democrat" by Cook Political Report.
    • Aja Smith (R) has advanced to the general election to challenge incumbent Representative Mark Takano (D) in CA-39, a contest currently rated as Solid Democrat" by Cook Political Report.
  • 2 (2D) women have advanced to an open-seat general election contest in CA-37.
    • State Senator Sydney Kamlager (D) and former Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry (D) have advanced to the general election in CA-37, an all-woman contest currently rated as "Solid Democrat" by Cook Political Report.

Of the 25 (19D, 6R) women nominees for U.S. House in California, 4 (2D, 2R) – Matsui (CA-07), Chu (CA-28), Kim (CA-40), and Steel (CA-45) – are Asian American, 6 (4D, 2R) – Hamilton (CA-06), Lee (CA-12), Kamlager (CA-37), Perry (CA-37), Smith (CA-39), and Waters (CA-42) – are Black, 6 (5D, 1R) – Duenas (CA-29), Napolitano (CA-31), Volotzky (CA-32), Torres (CA-35), Sánchez (CA-38), and Barragán (CA-44) – are Latina, and 10 (9D, 1R) – Pelosi (CA-11), Hayden (CA-14), Eshoo (CA-16), Lofgren (CA-18), Wood (CA-20), Brownley (CA-26), Smith (CA-27), Girl (CA-30), Porter (CA-47), and Jacobs (CA-51) are white.

In addition, former State Assemblywoman Connie Conway (R) won the special election to fill the remainder of former U.S. Representative Devin Nunes’ (R) term in California’s 22nd congressional district. Upon her swearing in, a record 146 women will serve in the U.S. Congress (27.3%) and a record 122 women will serve in the U.S. House (28%). These counts do not include four women who serve as non-voting delegates. Her entry will also mark a new high for Republican women in Congress (40) and in the House (32). Conway’s term will end in January 2023; she did not run for a full term starting in January 2023.

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Women currently hold 4 (4D) of 8 (50%) statewide elective executive offices in California. Thirteen (11D, 1R, 1NP) women have served in statewide elective executive offices in California. No woman has ever served as governor of California.

All statewide elective executive offices are up for election in California this year.

Nine (5D, 3R, 1NP) women filed as candidates for the eight statewide elective executive offices up for election in California in 2022, including 1 (1R) woman who filed as a candidate for governor.

Based on primary election results, women are 5 of 16 (31.3%) major-party nominees already selected for statewide elective executive offices in California, including 4 of 7 (57.1%) Democrats and 1 of 7 (14.3%) Republicans. Four (1D, 2R, 1NP) women statewide elective executive candidates were unsuccessful.

  • 3 (3D) women incumbents are running for re-election and have advanced to the general election in November: Treasurer Fiona Ma (D), Secretary of State Shirley Weber (D), and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis (D).
    • Incumbent Controller Betty Yee (D) is unable to run for re-election due to term limits.
  • 1 (1R) woman has already been selected to challenge an incumbent in November. 
    • Angela Underwood Jacobs (R) has advanced to the general election to challenge incumbent Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis (D) in an all-woman general election contest.
  • 1 (1D) woman has advanced to an open-seat general election contest.
    • Malia Cohen (D) has advanced to the general election contest for controller.

Of the 5 (4D, 1R) women nominees for statewide elective executive office in California, 1 (1D) – Ma (treasurer) – is Asian American, 3 (2D, 1R) – Cohen (controller), Underwood Jacobs (lieutenant governor), and Weber (secretary of state) – is Black, and 1 (1D) – Kounalakis (lieutenant governor) – is white.

 

Iowa

U.S. Senate

Current U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R) is the first and only woman to serve in the U.S. Senate from Iowa. She has served since 2015.

One (1D) women filed as a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Iowa. Former U.S. Representative Abby Finkenauer (D) was defeated in her bid for the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Senator Chuck Grassley (R). Finkenaeur (D) served one term in the U.S. House before being defeated in her re-election bid in 2020.   

U.S. House

Women currently hold 3 (1D, 2R) of 4 (75%) seats in the Iowa delegation to the U.S. House. Four (2D, 2R) women have served in the U.S. House from Iowa. The first women were elected to the U.S. House from Iowa in 2018.

Six (3D, 3R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in Iowa in 2022.

Based on primary election results, women are 5 of 8 (62.5%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Iowa, including 3 of 4 (75%) Democrats and 2 of 4 (50%) Republicans. This matches the previous high for women U.S. House nominees in Iowa. One (1R) woman candidate for the U.S. House was unsuccessful.

  • All 3 (1D, 2R) incumbent women were unopposed in the primary and are nominees for re-election in November.
    • Incumbent Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) is the Republican nominee in IA-01, a contest currently rated as “Likely Republican” by Cook Political Report. She will be challenged by State Representative Christina Bohannon (D) in an all-woman general election contest.
    • Incumbent Representative Ashley Hinson (R) is the Republican nominee in IA-02, a contest currently rated as “Likely Republican” by Cook Political Report. She will be challenged by State Senator Liz Mathis (D) in an all-woman general election contest.
    • Incumbent Representative Cindy Axne (D) is the Democratic nominee in IA-03 (her current district), a contest currently rated as a Democratic toss up by Cook Political Report.
  • Two (2D) women are nominees who will challenge incumbents in November. 
    • State Representative Christina Bohannon (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary to challenge incumbent Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) in IA-01, an all-woman contest currently rated as “Likely Republican” by  Cook Political Report.
    • State Senator Liz Mathis (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary to challenge incumbent Representative Ashley Hinson (R) in IA-02, an all-woman contest currently rated as “Likely Republican” by  Cook Political Report.

Of the 5 (3D, 2R) women nominees for U.S. House in Iowa, all are white. All of the women who have represented Iowa in Congress to date have been white.

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Women currently hold 1 (1R) of 7 (14.3%) statewide elective executive offices in Iowa. Thirteen (6D, 7R) women have served in statewide elective executive offices in Iowa, including 2 (1D, 1R) women who have served in more than one statewide executive office. Current Governor Kim Reynolds (R) is the first and only woman governor of Iowa. She ascended to the governorship to fill a vacancy in 2017 and then won re-election in 2018. 

All statewide elective executive offices are up for election in Iowa this year.

Four (1D, 3R) women filed as candidates for six statewide elective executive offices up for election in Iowa in 2022, including 2 (1D, 1R) women who filed as candidates for governor. Candidates for lieutenant governor are selected after the primary election.

Based on primary election results, women are 3 of 12 (25%) major-party nominees for statewide elective executive offices in Iowa, including 1 of 6 (16.7%) Democrats and 2 of 6 (33.3%) Republicans. One (1R) woman statewide elective executive candidate was unsuccessful.

  • Both major-party candidates for governor of Iowa are women, including incumbent Governor Kim Reynolds (R) and Diedre DeJear (D), who was unopposed in the Democratic primary. DeJear is just the second Black woman to win a major-party nomination for governor in the U.S. The first was Stacey Abrams, who won the Democratic nomination for governor of Georgia in both 2018 and 2022. If elected, DeJear would be the first Democratic and first Black woman governor of Iowa, as well as the first Black woman governor in the U.S. This contest is currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report.
  • Brenna Bird (R) was unopposed in the primary election for the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent Attorney General Tom Miller (D) in November.

Of the 3 (1D, 2R) women nominees for statewide elective executive office in Iowa, 1 (1D) – DeJear (governor) – is Black and 2 (2R) – Reynolds (governor) and Bird (attorney general) – are white. All women who have served in statewide elective executive office in Iowa to date are white.

 

Mississippi

U.S. House

Women currently hold 0 of 4 (0%) seats in the Mississippi delegation to the U.S. House. No woman has ever served in the U.S. House from Mississippi.

One (1D) woman filed as a candidate for the U.S. House in Mississippi in 2022.

Based on primary election results, women are 1 of 5 (20%) major-party nominees already selected for U.S. House in Mississippi, including 1 of 4 (25%) Democrats and 0 of 1 (0%) Republicans. They are 0 of 6 (0%) U.S. House candidates already selected to move on to the June 28th runoff elections in MS-02, MS-03, and MS-04.

  • Dianne Black (D) is the only woman candidate for the U.S. House in Mississippi. She is running in the Democratic primary to challenge incumbent Representative Trent Kelly (R) in MS-01, a contest currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report. She would be the first woman to serve in the U.S. House from Mississippi as well as the first Black woman to represent Mississippi in Congress.

 

Montana

U.S. House

Women currently hold 0 of 1 (0%) seats in the Montana delegation to the U.S. House. Jeannette Rankin (R) was the first and has been the only woman to serve in the U.S. Congress from Montana. She was elected to the U.S. House from Montana in 1916. She served from 1917 to 1919 and was later re-elected to serve from 1941 to 1943. No woman has served in the U.S. Congress from Montana since 1943.

Montana is gaining one U.S. House seat due to reapportionment. 

Four (3D, 1R) women filed as candidates for the U.S. House in Montana in 2022.

Based on primary election results, women are 2 of 4 (50%) major-party nominees already selected for U.S. House in Montana, including 2 of 2 (100%) Democrats and 0 of 2 (0%) Republicans. Two (1D, 1R) women candidates for the U.S. House were unsuccessful.

  • Peggy Ronning (D) won the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Representative Matt Rosendale (R) in MT-02, a contest currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report.
  • Monica Tranel (D) won the Democratic nomination for the open-seat U.S. House contest in MT-01, a contest currently rated as “Likely Republican” by Cook Political Report.

Of the 2 (2D) women nominees for U.S. House in Montana, both are white. All women who have served in Congress from Montana to date are white.

 

New Jersey

U.S. House

Women currently hold 2 (2D) of 12 (16.7%) seats in the New Jersey delegation to the U.S. House. Seven (4D, 3R) women have served in the U.S. House from New Jersey.

Eight (5D, 3R) women filed as candidates for the U.S. House in New Jersey in 2022.

Based on primary election results, women are 4 of 24 (16.7%) major-party nominees already selected for U.S. House in New Jersey, including 2 of 12 (16.7%) Democrats and 2 of 12 (16.7%) Republicans. Four (3D, 1R) women candidates for the U.S. House were unsuccessful.

  • Incumbent Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (D) and Mikie Sherrill (D) were unopposed in their primary election contests and are nominees for re-election in contests currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report.  
  • 2 (2R) women already won nominations to challenge incumbents in November. 
    • Claire Gustafson (R) won the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent Representative Donald Norcross (D) in NJ-01, a contest currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report.
    • Susan Kiley (R) won the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent Representative Frank Pallone (D) in NJ-06, a contest currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report.

Of the 4 (2D, 2R) women nominees already selected for U.S. House in New Jersey, 1 (1D) – Coleman (NJ-12) – is Black and 3 (1D, 2R) – Gustafson (NJ-01), Kiley (NJ-06), and Sherrill (NJ-11) – are white.  

 

New Mexico

U.S. House

Women currently hold 3 (2D, 1R) of 3 (100%) seats in the New Mexico delegation to the U.S. House. Eight (6D, 2R) women have served in the U.S. House from New Mexico.

Five (2D, 3R) women filed as candidates for the U.S. House in New Mexico in 2022.

Based on primary election results, women are 5 of 6 (83.3%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in New Mexico, including 2 of 3 (66.7%) Democrats and 3 of 3 (100%) Republicans. No women candidates for the U.S. House were unsuccessful.

  • All 3 (2D, 1R) women incumbents are nominees for re-election in November.
    • Incumbent Representative Melanie Stansbury (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary in NM-01, a contest currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report.
    • Incumbent Representative Yvette Herrell (R) was unopposed in the Republican primary in NM-02, a contest currently rated as a Republican toss up by Cook Political Report.  Due to redistricting, the partisan lean of Herrell’s district has shifted from solidly Republican (R+14) to Democratic (D+4).
    • Incumbent Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary in NM-03, a contest currently rated as a “Likely Democratic” by Cook Political Report.  Due to redistricting, Fernández will run in a less strongly Democratic-leaning NM-03 in 2022 (D+5) than when she first won the seat in that district in 2020 (D+14). She will be challenged by Republican nominee Alexis Martinez Johnson in an all-woman general election contest. 
  • 2 (2R) women won nominations to challenge incumbents in November.
    • Michelle Garcia Holmes (R) won the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent Representative Melanie Stansbury (D) in NM-01, an all-woman contest currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report. Garcia Holmes was the Republican nominee for NM-01 in the 2020 election, when she was defeated by incumbent Representative Deb Haaland (D) by 16.4 points.
    • Alexis Martinez Johnson (R) was unopposed in the Republican primary to challenge incumbent Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D) in NM-03, an all-woman contest currently rated as “Likely Democratic” by Cook Political Report.

Of the 5 (2D, 3R) women nominees for U.S. House in New Mexico, 3 (1D, 2R) – Garcia Holmes (NM-01), Martinez Johnson (NM-03), and Leger Fernández – are Latina and 2 (2D) – Stansbury (NM-01) and Herrell (NM-02) – identify as white. Incumbent Representative Yvette Herrell (R) self-identifies as white but is also recognized as a member of the Cherokee Nation. No Republican Latina has been elected to Congress from New Mexico.

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Women currently hold 3 (3D) of 7 (42.9%) statewide elective executive offices in New Mexico. Twenty-nine (27D, 2R) women have served in statewide elective executive offices in New Mexico, including governor.

All statewide elective executive offices are up for election in New Mexico this year.

Nine (5D, 4R) women filed as candidates for the seven statewide elective executive offices up for election in New Mexico in 2022, including 3 (1D, 2R) women who filed as candidates for governor.

Based on primary election results, women are 5 of 13 (38.5%) major-party nominees for statewide elective executive offices in New Mexico, including 4 of 7 (57.1%) Democrats and 1 of 6 (16.7%) Republicans. Four (1D, 3R) women statewide elective executive candidates were unsuccessful.

  • All 3 (3D) women incumbents are nominees for re-election in November.
    • Incumbent Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary to run for re-election in a contest currently rated as “Likely Democratic” by Cook Political Report.
    • Incumbent Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary. She will be challenged by Audrey Trujillo (R) in an all-woman general election contest.
    • Incumbent Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary.
  • 1 (1R) woman won a nomination to challenge an incumbent in November.  
    • Audrey Trujillo (R) was unopposed in the Republican primary for secretary of state. She will challenge incumbent Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver (D) in an all-woman contest in November.
  • 1 (1D) woman won a nomination for an open-seat statewide elective executive contest. 
    • Lara Montoya (D) won the Democratic nomination for treasurer. No woman has served as treasurer in New Mexico.

Of the 5 (4D, 1R) women nominees for statewide elective executive office in New Mexico, 4 (3D, 1R) – Lujan Grisham (governor), Garcia Richards (land commissioner), Montoya (treasurer), and Trujillo (secretary of state) – are Latina and 1 (1D) – Toulouse Oliver (secretary of state) – is white.

 

South Dakota

U.S. Senate

Two (2R) women have served in the U.S. Senate from South Dakota.

  • Gladys Pyle (R) won a special election to fill a vacancy caused by death of the previous incumbent. She served from November 9, 1938 – January 3, 1939. Because the U.S. Congress was out of session for her entire tenure, she was never sworn in.
  • Vera Calahan Bushfield (R) was appointed to fill a vacancy caused by the death of her husband and served from October 6, 1948 – December 26, 1948. No woman has served in the U.S. Senate from South Dakota for over 70 years.

No women filed as candidates to challenge incumbent Senator John Thune (R) in 2022.

U.S. House

Women currently hold 0 of 1 (0%) seat in the South Dakota delegation to the U.S. House. Two (1D, 1R) women have served in the U.S. House from South Dakota. The first woman was elected to the U.S. House from South Dakota in 2004.

One (1R) women filed as a candidate for the U.S. House in South Dakota in 2022.

Based on primary election results, women are 0 of 1 (0%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in South Dakota. One (1R) woman candidate for the U.S. House – State Representative Taffy Howard (R) – was unsuccessful in her Republican primary challenge to incumbent Representative Dusty Johnson (R) for South Dakota’s at-large U.S. House seat.

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Women currently hold 2 (2R) of 10 (20%) statewide elective executive offices in South Dakota. Twenty-six (7D, 19R) women have served in statewide elective executive offices in South Dakota, including governor.

While all statewide elective executive offices are up for election in South Dakota this year, only gubernatorial nominees were selected in the primary election. Nominees for other offices will be selected at party conventions.

Current Governor Kristi Noem (R) is the first and only woman governor of South Dakota. She was first elected in 2018.  She is the only woman who filed as a candidate for governor in 2022. She won the Republican nomination for re-election in a contest currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report.

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

CAWP Staff