The 2025 election is considered an “off year” election, with few congressional, statewide, or state legislative races compared to even-year elections. Nevertheless, some very visible “firsts” among women candidates are changing the political landscape. Several of these elections have been widely reported, including in Gender on the Ballot’s Media Round Up. Who are the women who won on Election Day in your state, county, township, village or municipality? Tell us at ongender@gmail.com

The phrase “Year of the Woman” was first coined in 1992, when a record 47 women  were elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and 4 additional seats in the U.S. Senate, for a total of 54 women in the 103^rd Congress (8%). At the time, women were 18% of Mayors of cities over 30,000 in population. The moniker has also been applied to the 2018 election, resulting in a total of 110 women serving in the 115^th Congress (25%). Women reached 22% of big city Mayors after that election. As of this writing, women are 28% of Congress and 25% of big city Mayors. We’ll know in 2026 whether and how much the needle has moved toward parity for women Mayors.

In other words, while there has been progress – sometimes rapid – in women’s representation in politics, we are still far from parity in most locations of political leadership. This is especially true for women of color and other underrepresented groups.  It’s too early to declare 2025 as the Local “Year of the Woman,” however, WPI continues its mission to examine and contextualize gender dynamics in politics and to close the gender gap in political leadership. In the meantime, below are examples of “firsts” to celebrate. There are many others, and more announcements coming as undeclared races and run-off elections are finalized.

The Center for American Women & Politics at Rutgers University regularly reports on election results and maintains an Election Watch for future elections.

Selected “Firsts” in the 2025 election:

Governors
Former U. S. Representative Abigail Spanberger won the race for Virginia governor on November 4^th, making history as the commonwealth’s first female governor.

U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill was elected to be New Jersey’s next governor, becoming the second woman and first Democratic woman to serve in that capacity.

Lt. Governor

Virginia State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi became the first Muslim American woman elected to statewide office in the United States when she prevailed in her race for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.

Mayors: Here are just a few examples of women mayoral firsts elected on November 4^th:

Albany, NY: Dorcey Applyrs made history, becoming the first Black mayor, and first Black woman Mayor of Albany, NY.

Boston, MA: Mayor Michelle Wu won a second term, continuing her tenure as the first woman and first Asian American mayor of the city.

Council Bluffs, NE: Jill Shudak is first woman elected Mayor in the city’s more than 170-year history.

Detroit, MI: Mary Sheffield made history, becoming the first woman elected as Mayor of Detroit.

St. Paul, MN: Kaohly Her will be the first woman and first Hmong woman to be Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Syracuse, NY: Sharon Owens became the first Black Mayor and Black woman elected Mayor of Syracuse, NY.