Results from the September 8th Primary in New Hampshire and the September 9th Primary in Rhode Island
Primary elections were held this week in two states: New Hampshire (9/8) and Rhode Island (9/9). Full context about women in the 2026 elections, including candidate lists, summaries, and historical comparisons, are available via the Center for American Women and Politics’ (CAWP) Election Watch.
LAST UPDATE: 9/10/2026 at 9:45AM ET
Toplines
New Hampshire
- Incumbent Kelly Ayotte (R) will face Cinde Warmington (D) in an all-woman contest for governor in New Hampshire that is currently rated as “Likely Republican” by Cook Political Report. New Hampshire joins Minnesota, Oregon, and Tennessee as one of four all-woman gubernatorial contests in 2026. This matches the record high for all-women gubernatorial contests in a single cycle (4), first set in 2022.
- Based on primary election results, women are 3 of 4 (75%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in New Hampshire, including 2 of 2 (100%) Democrats and 1 of 2 (50%) Republicans.
Rhode Island
- Helena Foulkes (D) defeated incumbent Dan McKee for the Democratic nomination for governor.
- Elaine Pelino (R) is in a race for the Republican nomination for governor that is currently too close to call. If successful, she will face Helena Foulkes (D) in an all-women contest that will break the record high for all-women gubernatorial contests in a single cycle (4), first set in 2022 and matched this year.
- Based on primary election results, women are 3 of 7 (42.9%) major-party nominees for statewide elective executive office in Rhode Island, including 3 of 5 (60%) Democrats and 0 of 2 (0%) Republicans.
- No women filed as candidates for U.S. Senate in Rhode Island in 2026. No woman has served in the U.S. Senate from Rhode Island.
- Kellie Keenan (R) is the sole woman nominee for the U.S. House in Rhode Island. This contest is currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report. No woman has served in the U.S. House from Rhode Island since 1991.
New Hampshire
0
3 (2D, 1R)
2 (2D)
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 New Hampshire. Three (1D, 2R) women candidates were unsuccessful.
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: New Hampshire is currently one of four states represented by two women simultaneously in the U.S. Senate. Three (2D, 1R) women have served in the U.S. Senate from New Hampshire.
- Incumbent U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D) is not running for re-election in 2026.
Women Candidates in 2026: Three (1D, 2R) women filed as candidates for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire 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 3 of 4 (75%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in New Hampshire, including 2 of 2 (100%) Democrats and 1 of 2 (50%) Republicans.
The number of women major-party nominees for the U.S. House matches the previous high (3). Seven (5D, 2R) women House candidates were unsuccessful. Of the 3 (2D, 1R) women nominees for U.S. House in New Hampshire: one (1D) is an incumbent, one (1R) is a challenger, and one (1D) is running for an open seat. A new woman is all but assured to win in the all-woman contest for New Hampshire’s Second Congressional District.
|
District |
Woman Nominee |
Party |
Seat Status |
Race/Ethnicity |
Current Cook Political Report Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Stefany Shaheen |
D |
Open |
White |
Likely Democrat |
|
2 |
Maggie Goodlander |
D |
Incumbent |
White |
Solid Democrat |
|
2 |
Lily Tang Williams |
R |
Challenger |
Asian American/Pacific Islander |
Solid Democrat |
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 1 of 2 (50%) seats in the New Hampshire delegation to the U.S. House. Three (3D) women have served in the U.S. House from New Hampshire.
Women Candidates in 2026: Ten (7D, 3R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in New Hampshire in 2026. This is a record high. They were 10 of 20 (50%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2026.
Milestones to Watch in 2026:
- No Asian American/Pacific Islander woman has served in the U.S. Congress from New Hampshire.
- No Republican woman has served in the U.S. House from New Hampshire.
Governor
Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 2 of 2 (100%) major-party nominees for governor in New Hampshire. New Hampshire is one of four all-woman gubernatorial contests in 2026. This matches the record high for all-women gubernatorial contests in a single cycle (4), first set in 2022.
|
Woman Nominee |
Party |
Seat Status |
Race/Ethnicity |
Current Cook Political Report Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kelly Ayotte |
R |
Incumbent |
White |
Likely Republican |
|
Cinde Warmington |
D |
Challenger |
White |
Likely Republican
|
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: New Hampshire is currently one of fourteen states with a woman governor. Four (2D, 2R) women have served as governor in New Hampshire.
Women Candidates in 2026: Two (1D, 1R) women filed as candidates for governor in New Hampshire in 2026. This is not a record high. They were 2 of 4 (50%) total major-party candidates for governor in 2026.
Rhode Island
0
1 (1R)
3 (3D)
U.S. Senate
Women Nominees in 2026: No women filed as candidates for U.S. Senate in Rhode Island in 2026. No woman has served in the U.S. Senate from Rhode Island.
U.S. House
Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 1 of 4 (25%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Rhode Island, including 0 of 2 (0%) Democrats and 1 of 2 (50%) Republicans. Zero women House candidates were unsuccessful.
|
District |
Woman Nominee |
Party |
Seat Status |
Race/Ethnicity |
Current Cook Political Report Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Kellie Keenan |
R |
Challenger |
White |
Solid Democrat |
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: There are no women in Rhode Island’s current delegation to the U.S. House. One (1R) woman – Claudine Schneider – has served in the U.S. House from Rhode Island. She left office in 1991.
Women Candidates in 2026: One (1R) woman filed as a candidate for U.S. House in Rhode Island in 2026. She was 1 of 5 (20%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2026.
Milestones to Watch in 2026:
- No woman has served in the U.S. House from Rhode Island since 1991.
Statewide Elective Executive Office
Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 3 of 7 (42.9%) major-party nominees for statewide elective executive office in Rhode Island, including 3 of 5 (60%) Democrats and 0 of 2 (0%) Republicans. There is one (1R) woman candidate in a race that is too close to call.
The number of women major-party nominees for statewide elective executive office matches the previous high (3). Two (2D) women statewide executive candidates were unsuccessful. Of the 3 (3D) women nominees for statewide elective executive office in Rhode Island: one (1D) is an incumbent, and 2 (2D) are running for open seats.
|
Office |
Woman Nominee |
Party |
Seat Status |
Race/Ethnicity |
Current Cook Political Report Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Governor |
Helena Foulkes |
D |
Open |
White |
Solid Democrat |
|
Lt. Governor |
Sabina Matos |
D |
Incumbent |
Black/Latina |
|
|
Attorney General |
Kim Ahern |
D |
Open |
White |
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 1 of 5 (20%) statewide elective executive offices in Rhode Island. Nine (5D, 4R) women have served in statewide elective executive offices in Rhode Island, including one woman who held more than one statewide elective executive office.
Women Candidates in 2026: Six (5D, 1R) women filed as candidates for statewide elective executive office in Rhode Island in 2026. This is not a record high. They were 6 of 18 (33.3%) total major-party candidates for statewide elective executive office in 2026.
