The 2026 midterms are setting records before a single vote is counted. According to Kelly Dittmar of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, a record number of women are running for the U.S. House, with record highs for Democratic women in both House and gubernatorial contests. It raises a real question: can the 120th Congress move past the current 28% female representation?
The bigger story might be the shift in what women voters care about. Instead of the female-coded issues that dominated 2018 and 2022, Dittmar says affordability is paramount across the board this cycle. That’s no surprise to anyone paying Suncoast bills lately, with insurance, groceries, and housing front and center. Women remain the most consistent voting bloc in the country, so campaigns on both sides are listening closely.
There’s also a stark party divide: women make up 42% of congressional Democrats but just 15% of congressional Republicans. The gender gap shows up in the slate of candidates too. With Election Day on Nov. 3, 2026, how far past 28% the next Congress goes is up to voters.
What’s the top issue deciding your vote this November? Let us know.
