There are state and local elections happening right now where we can help fortify Democratic power in key offices. Our local groups will support some of these statewide races. Others are for your information in case you’d like to support candidates beyond your local group. You can give to all listed candidates via womencount.org.
Governors
Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Governor of New Jersey. This is a crowded race that includes heavy hitters like fellow Rep. Josh Gottheimer and the mayors of both Jersey City and Newark. Recent polling has Mikie in the lead at 10 percent, with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Rep. Gottheimer and former New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney trailing by only a couple points. The Democratic primary is on June 10.
Rep. Abigail Spanberger, Governor of Virginia: She has no primary challengers and will face current Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears in the general election. And this race will be high-profile: Virginia is always considered a bellwether in the off-year and that will especially be the case in 2025. The most recent polling has them tied. The general election will be November 4.
Other Statewide
Susan Crawford, Justice of the WI Supreme Court: Wisconsin voters elevated Judge Susan Crawford to the Wisconsin Supreme Court over her Republican opponent by 10 percentage points. A loss in this race would have given control to the Court’s Republicans, and Susan’s victory is seen as the first major Democratic win of the second Trump presidency. This special election was April 1.
Ghazala Hashmi, Virginia Lieutenant Governor: Ghazala is a two-term state senator who won her first race in 2019. With the current lieutenant governor vacating the seat to run for governor, this normally competitive race becomes even more challenging for Republicans to hold. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately in Virginia. Aaron Rouse, a state senator from the 22nd district, is shaping up to be Ghazala’s most formidable primary opponent, especially among those concerned about having two (or even three) women leading the ticket. The primary is June 17.
Shannon Taylor, Virginia Attorney General: Shannon has been the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Henrico County since 2012. Former state delegate Jay Jones is her only primary challenger so far. If she makes it into the general, she’ll face first-term incumbent Jason Miyares. The primary is June 17.
Virginia State House of Delegates
District 22 candidate Elizabeth Guzmán, a former Delegate who was redistricted out in 2023 and is looking to reclaim a seat.
District 41 candidate Lily Franklin, who ran last cycle and lost to the incumbent Republican by only 183 votes.
District 57 candidate May Nivar, who is in a two-person primary for this district that local leaders rate a top pickup opportunity.
District 71 candidate Jessica Anderson, who lost in 2023 to the current Republican incumbent by only 1.9 percent after being vastly outspent.
District 73 candidate Leslie Mehta, a medical charity founder endorsed by Abigail Spanberger in this two-person primary.
District 75 candidate Lindsey Dougherty, who is mounting a rematch in a district she barely lost to the current incumbent in 2019. She faces two primary opponents.
District 82 candidate Kimberly Pope Adams, who fell short of flipping this district by less than half a percentage point in 2023.
District 89 candidate Kacey Carnegie, a lawyer taking on the only open, competitive House seat. She faces one primary challenger.