The women behind the Democratic wave transforming US politics

The U.S. midterm elections have brought a great deal of change: high turnout, major Democratic gains, and a host of new faces. But they have also brought a remarkable surge in the political representation of women. Thanks both to female voter participation and to the women elected to office, many of whom shattered longstanding glass ceilings, the political map of the United States has been transformed.

For the first time, as many as 155 women will serve in the U.S. Congress. The previous record was 152, set in 2024. The figure speaks for itself, underscoring how more and more women are seeking to take responsibility for the country’s affairs and help shape its future. There will also be 17 female governors across the 50 states, 14 Democrats and three Republicans, representing just over one-third of all governorships. The previous record stood at 14.

The wave of new names on the national political stage is enormous, and many of them are giving greater visibility to groups that have not always been well represented in politics. Perhaps the most prominent example is Gina Hinojosa, the new governor of Texas, a 52-year-old who has become the first Democrat and the first woman to lead the state in more than 30 years.

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