Men Vastly Outgiving Women in Election 2026

Men have given vastly more money in political contributions than women in the midterm elections, according to a new analysis from the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. CAWP continues its Women, Money, & Politics Watch 2026 rollout today with an analysis of donor demographics in political fundraising. While the total dollar amount given by men is significantly outpacing the amount given by women, the proportion of women among all unique donors to congressional candidates is about equal to men.

In the Donor Gaps: Demographics Analysis section of Women, Money, & Politics Watch 2026, CAWP experts examine the participation of women donors with additional detail about donor race/ethnicity, educational attainment, marital status, and age. We also investigate how these donor characteristics correspond to candidates’ gender and party identities.

“We’re seeing a large gender disparity in campaign contributions in the 2026 midterms, with men’s contributions far exceeding women’s,” said lead author and CAWP Senior Scholar Kira Sanbonmatsu. “This work leads us to a critical question: are women’s voices being heard in this important election? Even before ballots are cast, people make their voices heard through political donations. Because of the disparities revealed here, the candidates women support may have fewer resources for their campaigns. The fact that women are about half of donors shows that women are very engaged in this election.”

Donor Gaps: Demographics Analysis launches with a nationwide analysis of donors to 2026 congressional races. Analyzing donations made during calendar year 2026 to all major party congressional candidates in the running as of April 15, 2026, CAWP researchers find that: 

• The total amount contributed by men to 2026 congressional candidates vastly exceeds the amount contributed by women. Men have provided 62% of all money contributed to congressional candidates with 38% provided by women.
• However, women fare better as a proportion of unique donors to congressional candidates than as a proportion of total money contributed. Women are about half of unique donors to congressional candidates.
• Women are providing a higher share of the total amount contributed to Democratic than Republican congressional candidates. Women have contributed 43% of all money given to Democratic congressional candidates, whereas women have only contributed 29% of all money given to Republican congressional candidates.
• Women from historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups are especially underrepresented as donors to congressional candidates:
  • Black women have donated just 1% of all money contributed to 2026 congressional candidates.
  • Latinas have donated just 1% of all money contributed to 2026 congressional candidates.
  • Asian American women have donated about 1.5% of all money contributed to 2026 congressional candidates.
• Slight gender affinity effects are evident in giving patterns:
  • Women have donated 45% of all money contributed to Democratic women congressional candidates compared with 42% of all money contributed to Democratic men congressional candidates.
  • Women have donated 31% of all money contributed to Republican women congressional candidates compared with 28% of all money contributed to Republican men congressional candidates.
• Women candidates from historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups are more likely than white women candidates to attract racially diverse donors.
  • For example, 3% of the money raised by Democratic women U.S. House incumbents who are white came from Black donors compared with 9% of the funds contributed to Democratic women U.S. House incumbent candidates who are Black.

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Women, Money, & Politics Watch 2026 uses interactive data visualizations powered by Graphicacy that are downloadable and shareable; follow the story as it develops on the project landing page. CAWP recently updated The National View that tracks campaign finance in all congressional races. Stay tuned for updates as new campaign finance data become available and find all CAWP data about women in election 2026 at Election Watch. Campaign finance data for the project come from OpenSecrets and voter demographic data are from Catalist.

This research is made possible thanks to the generosity and commitment of Pivotal. Critical funding support for Women, Money, & Politics Watch 2026 was provided by Michelle Mercer and Bruce Golden.