WMC Talks: Midterm Election Results for Women

Women helped reshape the political landscape in the 2026 midterms—but is the media telling the full story? Erica González sits down with Kelly Dittmar, director of research at Rutgers University’s Center for American Women and Politics, to unpack the election results and the pivotal role women played in determining the outcomes.

From record-breaking gains for women candidates and surprising victories to the gender gap in voting and the challenges facing Republican women, Dittmar examines what the results reveal about women’s growing political influence. She also challenges the media’s tendency to treat women voters as a single bloc, explains why early exit polls should be approached with caution, and offers advice on how to separate meaningful election analysis from misleading narratives.

Center of American Women in Politics: Results for Women Congressional and Statewide Executive Candidates in Election 2026