Illinois Gains Second Woman of Color in Senate as 17 States Elect Female Governors

Seventeen states elected female governors on Tuesday, setting a new national record for women in the highest executive office. The surge in female leadership extended to the U.S. House and Senate, where several candidates are projected to secure historic firsts for their respective states and demographics.

In Illinois, Democrat Juliana Stratton is projected to win the U.S. Senate race. Her victory means three Black women will serve in the Senate simultaneously, joining current Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland. Stratton's win also makes Illinois the first state represented by two women-of-color senators, as she will serve alongside current Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, according to the Center for American Women and Politics.

Other projected wins mark firsts for individual states. In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms is projected to become the first Black female governor in the nation. Marsha Blackburn is projected to become Tennessee's first woman governor, while Amy Acton is projected to become the first woman elected governor in Ohio. In Texas, Democratic Representative Gina Hinojosa is projected to become the state's first Latina governor.

Female gubernatorial nominees had already broken records before Election Day, with 26 women running as major-party nominees. The final tally of women in statewide offices, including governor, now stands at 101, the highest number ever recorded. At least 18 Black women are set to serve in statewide elective executive offices, up from the previous record of 11.

In the U.S. Senate, Democrat Peggy Flanagan is projected to become the first Native American woman to serve in the chamber after her win in Minnesota. Democrat Annie Andrews is projected to win in South Carolina, becoming that state's first elected female senator.

Congressional districts also saw historic outcomes. Democrat Melat Kiros won Colorado's 1st Congressional District, becoming the first Black woman elected to Congress in the state's history. In Nebraska, Democrat Denise Powell is projected to become the first Latina to represent the state in Congress.

As of now, 139 women are projected to serve in the 120th Congress beginning in January. That number is slightly lower than the 152 women currently serving in the chamber, but the record number of women in statewide executive offices marks a distinct shift in local and state leadership.