Electing Women Bay Area hosts women candidates for President, US Senate, Governor, and competitive US House races in California.
We are pleased to be supporting the four women incuments for US Senate and four women Governors up for re-election in 2022.
Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire is the most vulnerable Senate incumbent of either party and she is the top target for Republicans this cycle. Gov. Chris Sununu, who has served as Governor since 2016 and is the son of former Gov. John Sununu, is widely expected to run against Hassan. If he takes a pass, former Sen. Kelly Ayotte is expected to launch a re-match against Sen. Hassan. Hassan won in 2016 by just 1,017 votes or .14% of the vote.
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, the first Latina in the US Senate, will also have a competitive re-election. Nevada is a highly transient state and has been hit hard by the economic downturn. There is a high non-college education population as well as high union membership. Biden won by fewer than 45,000 votes in 2020 and Cortez Masto won by fewer than 30,000 votes in 2016.
We are keeping an eye on Sen. Tammy Duckworth in Illinois. It is an expensive state and Democratic leadership in the state has been in flux. Several prominent Republicans are considering running.
Sen. Patty Murray, the highest-ranking woman in the Senate, is also up for re-election but should be safe.
We also expect to have women candidates for the Senate in Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Gubernatorial races are also critical this cycle and we have several women who won in the 2018 wave up in 2022.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s re-election is likely to be the marquee election. Numerous Republicans are lining up for a competitive primary and this race will draw national resources.
Gov. Laura Kelly in Kansas will have a tough re-election. Rep. Jerry Moran (R) is expected to run and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has not ruled out a run.
Maine will be unpredictable but Gov. Janet Mills is in a good position to win again. They now have ranked choice voting and Maine was the only state to split their 2020 results (Biden/Collins). Former Gov. Paul LePage (R) has said he will run again as well.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is up for re-election and is also Chair of the Democratic Governor’s Association this cycle. She should be safe but will need early resources to be competitive.
We also expect to have women gubernatorial candidates in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, and Ohio.