Results from the March 3rd Primaries in Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas

Toplines

Arkansas

• Hallie Shoffner (D) will challenge incumbent U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R). In the U.S. House, Terri Yarbrough Green (D) will challenge incumbent U.S. Representative Rick Crawford (R). Both contests are currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report. No woman has served in Congress from Arkansas since 2011, when Senator Blanche Lambert Lincoln (D) left the U.S. Senate.
• Incumbent Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) and Lieutenant Governor Leslie Rutledge (R) were unopposed in their primaries and are favored to win re-election in November.
• Kelly Grappe (D) secured the Democratic nomination for Secretary of State. 

North Carolina

• No women have advanced as nominees for the U.S. Senate. No woman has served in the U.S. Senate from North Carolina since 2015.
• Four (3D, 1R) women U.S. House incumbents won their primaries and are strongly favored to win re-election in November.
• Of the 4 (3D, 1R) non-incumbent women nominees for U.S. House, only 1 (1R) – Laurie Buckout – is currently favored (“Lean Republican”)  by Cook Political Report. All 3 (3D) non-incumbent Democratic women nominees are in contests currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report. 

Texas

• No women have advanced as nominees for the U.S. Senate. Incumbent U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett (D) was unsuccessful in her bid for the Democratic nomination, which means that she will leave Congress in 2027.
• Five (3D, 2R) of 7 (5D, 2R) women incumbents representing Texas in the U.S. House won their nominations and are currently favored to win re-election in November. In addition to Crockett’s departure to run for U.S. Senate, incumbent U.S. Representative Julie Johnson (D) lost her primary.
• Eighteen (14D, 4R) non-incumbent women won their primaries for U.S. House; all but two are in contests that currently favor their opponent according to Cook Political Report. The exceptions are Jessica Hart Steinmann (R), who won in Texas’ 8th Congressional District and Alex Mealer (R), who won in Texas' 9th Congressional District, both rated “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report.
• State Representative Gina Hinojosa (D) won the Democratic nomination for governor. She will challenge incumbent Governor Greg Abbott (R) in a contest currently rated as “Solid Republican” by Cook Political Report. If successful, she would be the first Latina governor of Texas. 

Arkansas

U.S. Senate

Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, a woman is 1 of 2 (50%) major-party nominees for U.S. Senate in Arkansas.

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 0 of 2 (0%) seats in the Arkansas delegation to the U.S. Senate. Two (2D) women have served in the U.S. Senate from Arkansas.

Women Candidates in 2026: Two (1D, 1R) women filed as candidates for U.S. Senate in Arkansas in 2026. This is not a record high. They were 2 of 5 (40%) total major-party candidates for U.S. Senate in 2026.

Milestones to Watch in 2026:

• No woman has served in Congress from Arkansas since 2011, when Senator Blanche Lambert Lincoln (D) left the U.S. Senate.

U.S. House

Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 1 of 8 (12.5%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Arkansas, including 1 of 4 (25%) Democrats and 0 of 4 (0%)  Republicans. 

The number of women major-party nominees for the U.S. House falls short of the previous high (2), first set in 1994. No women House candidates were unsuccessful. The sole woman nominee for U.S. House in Arkansas will challenge an incumbent. 

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 0 of 4 (0%) seats in the Arkansas delegation to the U.S. House. Four (4D) women have served in the U.S. House from Arkansas.

Women Candidates in 2026: One (1D) woman filed as a candidate for U.S. House in Arkansas in 2026. This is not a record high. She was 1 of 11 (9.1%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2026.

Milestones to Watch in 2026:

• No woman has served in Congress from Arkansas since 2011, when Senator Blanche Lambert Lincoln (D) left the U.S. Senate.
• No woman has served in the U.S. House from Arkansas since 1997, when Representative Blanche Lambert Lincoln (D) left the U.S. House. 

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 3 of 8 (37.5%) major-party nominees for statewide elective executive office in Arkansas, including 1 of 2 (50%) Democrats and 2 of 6 (33.3%) Republicans. 

The number of women major-party nominees for statewide elective executive office falls short of the previous high (7), set in 2022. Two (1D, 1R) women statewide executive candidates were unsuccessful. Of the 3 (1D, 2R) women nominees for statewide elective executive office in Arkansas: 2 (2R) are incumbents and 1 (1D) is running for an open seat.

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 2 of 7 (28.6%) statewide elective executive offices in Arkansas. Nine (5D, 4R) women have served in statewide elective executive offices in Arkansas, including three women who served in two different statewide elective executive offices. 

Women Candidates in 2026: Five (2D, 3R) women filed as candidates for statewide elective executive office in Arkansas in 2026. This is not a record high. They were 5 of 13 (38.5%) total major-party candidates for statewide elective executive office in 2026.

Milestones to Watch in 2026:

• No Republican woman has served as secretary of state in Arkansas.

North Carolina

U.S. Senate

Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 0 of 2 (0%) major-party nominees for U.S. Senate in North Carolina. All 3 (3R) women candidates for U.S. Senate in North Carolina were unsuccessful. 

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 0 of 2 (0%) seats in the North Carolina delegation to the U.S. Senate. Two (1D, 1R) women have served in the U.S. Senate from North Carolina.

Women Candidates in 2026: Three (3R) women filed as candidates for U.S. Senate in North Carolina in 2026. This is not a record high. They were 3 of 13 (23.1%) total major-party candidates for U.S. Senate in 2026.

U.S. House

Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 8 of 28 (28.6%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in North Carolina, including 6 of 14 (42.9%) Democrats and 2 of 14 (14.3%)  Republicans.

The number of women major-party nominees for the U.S. House falls short of  the previous high (11), set in 2022. Eight (6D, 2R) women House candidates were unsuccessful. Of the 8 (6D, 2R) women nominees for U.S. House in North Carolina: 4 (3D, 1R) are incumbents and 4 (3D, 1R) are challengers. 

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 4 of 14 (28.6%) seats in the North Carolina delegation to the U.S. House. Nine (6D, 3R) women have served in the U.S. House from North Carolina. 

Women Candidates in 2026: Sixteen (12D, 4R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in North Carolina in 2026. This is not a record high. They were 16 of 67 (23.9%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2026.

Statewide Elective Executive Office

There are no statewide executive elections in North Carolina in 2026.

Texas

U.S. Senate

Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women will be 0 of 2 (0%) major-party nominees for U.S. Senate in Texas. Three (1D, 2R) women candidates, including incumbent U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett (D), were unsuccessful. 

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 0 of 2 (0%) seats in the Texas delegation to the U.S. Senate. One woman has served in the U.S. Senate from Texas: Kay Bailey Hutchison (R, 1993-2013).

Women Candidates in 2026: Three (1D, 2R) women filed as candidates for U.S. Senate in Texas in 2026. This is not a record high. They were 3 of 11 (27.3%) total major-party candidates for U.S. Senate in 2026.

U.S. House

Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 23 of 75 (30.7%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Texas, including 17 of 37 (45.9%) Democrats and 6 of 38 (15.8%) Republicans. 

The number of women major-party nominees for the U.S. House falls short of the previous high (25), set in 2020. Forty-three (18D, 25R) women House candidates were unsuccessful, including incumbent Julie Johnson (D). Of the 23 (17D, 6R) women nominees for U.S. House in Texas: 5 (3D, 2R) are incumbents, 10 (8D, 2R) are challengers, and 8 (6D, 2R) are running for open seats.

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 7 of 38 (18.4%) seats in the Texas delegation to the U.S. House. Fifteen (10D, 5R) women have served in the U.S. House from Texas.  

• Incumbent U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett (D) did not run for re-election to the House in 2026; instead, she ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.
• Incumbent U.S. Representative Julie Johnson (D) has advanced to a runoff in her primary race. 

Women Candidates in 2026: Sixty-six (35D, 31R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in Texas in 2026. This is not a record high. They were 66 of 253 (26.1%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2026.

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 4 of 13 (30.8%) major-party nominees for statewide elective executive office in Texas, including 3 of 7 (42.9%) Democrats and 1 of 6 (16.7%) Republicans. 

The number of women major-party nominees for statewide elective executive office matches the previous high (4). Eight (3D, 5R) women statewide executive candidates were unsuccessful. Of the 4 (3D, 1R) women nominees for statewide elective executive office in Texas: 1 (1R) is an incumbent, 2 (2D) are challengers, and one (1D) is running for an open seat. 

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 2 of 9 (22.2%) statewide elective executive offices in Texas. Ten (4D, 6R) women have served in statewide elective executive offices in Texas, including three women who served two different statewide elective executive offices.  

• Current Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick (R) was not up for re-election this year. She ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for comptroller in election 2026 but did not have to give up her seat on the Railroad Commission. Her term ends in 2030.

Women Candidates in 2026: Twelve (6D, 6R) women filed as candidates for statewide elective executive office in Texas in 2026. This is not a record high. They were 12 of 54 (22.2%) total major-party candidates for statewide elective executive office in 2026.

Milestones to Watch in 2026: 

• No Latina has served as governor of Texas.